India continues to play a significant role as a major exporter of refined petroleum products in South Asia, with particular attention to its neighbouring countries. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) recently confirmed that the government has received a request from Bangladesh for diesel supply, which is currently under careful review. Officials highlighted that India’s energy exports are guided by a people-centric and development-oriented approach to regional partnerships.
Diesel shipments from the Numaligarh Refinery to Bangladesh have been ongoing since 2007 using multiple transport modes, including waterways, rail, and the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline. A formal sale purchase agreement between Numaligarh Refinery and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, signed in October 2017, governs the supply of high-speed diesel on mutually agreed terms. While exports have largely continued since then, India factors in its domestic refining capacity, national fuel requirements, and availability when evaluating such requests.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that India has received similar requests from other neighbouring countries, including Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Each request is being carefully assessed, ensuring that India’s domestic energy needs are met while supporting regional energy cooperation.
Regional energy concerns have heightened following disruptions in West Asia, which have unsettled global markets. According to Bangladesh’s leading newspaper, The Daily Star, fuel shortages have caused long queues at petrol stations in Dhaka, Chattogram, and other cities. The editorial highlighted that Bangladesh’s reliance on imported energy, particularly fuel oils and liquefied natural gas from the Middle East, makes the nation vulnerable to disruptions in key maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
Approximately one-fifth of Bangladesh’s crude oil imports pass through this strategic waterway. Although refined petroleum is sourced from other Asian suppliers, the recent instability in global energy flows has raised consumer anxiety and prompted urgent supply requests.
India’s proactive approach in reviewing diesel supply requests reflects its dual role as a regional energy provider and a nation safeguarding its own energy security. By balancing domestic fuel needs with commitments to neighbouring countries, India continues to strengthen South Asia’s energy resilience while supporting economic and industrial stability across the region.
