India has been supplying diesel to Bangladesh from the Numaligarh refinery in Assam since 2007 through multiple modes, including waterways, rail and the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline. A sale-purchase agreement for the pipeline was signed in October 2017.
“While diesel exports to Bangladesh have largely continued since 2017, India’s refining capacity, our own requirements and diesel availability will be factored in while taking a decision,” Jaiswal said.The requests come at a time when the ongoing conflict in West Asia has disrupted shipping routes along the Strait of Hormuz passage (a key route for global oil shipments and energy supply), pushing crude prices higher and raising concerns over the availability of LPG, petrochemicals and other energy-linked inputs that several industries rely on.
Amid the disruption, the government has previously said that India has diversified its crude oil sourcing to manage supply risks. Authorities have also assured adequate LPG availability and urged consumers not to resort to panic booking.
On the diplomatic front, India has also been in touch with Iran on developments linked to maritime routes and energy security.
Also read: Oil supply may take months to return to pre-war levels
Jaiswal said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Iran’s foreign minister have spoken three times in recent days, with the latest discussion focusing on shipping and energy security.
“The last conversation focused on shipping and India’s energy security. It would be premature to say anything more on that,” he said.
When asked whether India had sought safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route, Jaiswal declined to confirm.
Also read: Has Iran agreed for safe passage of Indian oil tankers? Here’s what foreign ministry said
At the same briefing, the MEA said India is also closely monitoring the situation in Iran, where around 9,000 Indian nationals, comprising students, seafarers and pilgrims, were present.
“Some time back our mission had issued an advisory. A lot of students have left Iran and reached home. We had shifted Indian students and pilgrims out of Tehran,” Jaiswal said.
He added that many Indians seeking to leave Iran are using land routes through Armenia and Azerbaijan, and advised those wishing to leave to remain in touch with the Indian embassy.
