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India has appointed SUZ Tractebel of Belgium as a technical consultant to carry out a study on a project for laying gas pipeline from Myanmar to India bypassing Bangladesh.
According to a report received in Dhaka Tuesday, GAIL (India) Ltd, a premier natural gas company, has made the appointment upon Indian government approval.
The move is a part of seeking an optional route to import natural gas from Myanmar through the land-locked region of northeastern India.
Last January 3, Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry approved the GAIL's proposal to appoint an international consultant to carry out the feasibility study on the pipeline.
"GAIL seeks a detailed feasibility report, Environment Management Plan and Rapid Risk Analysis for transportation of 33.5 MMSCMD (million standard cubic metre per day) of natural gas (22-28 MMSCMD from Myanmar and 3.5 MM-SCMD from Tripura and 4.5 MMSC-MD from Assam) through a pipeline via NE," the report said.
India has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Myanmar to import natural gas from Myanmar via pipeline besides transport ing as CNG through sea route as the first option and through a pipeline via a third country, Bangladesh, as the second option.
To transport gas from Myanmar to Indian state of West Bengal, a move was taken to set up a pipeline through Bangladesh. A project -- tri-nation gas pipeline -- was initiated by the Mohona Holdings Limited way back in 1997 for transporting natural gas found in offshore Myanmar to India via Bangladesh.
The governments of India and Myanmar have already approved Mohona's proposal for the cross-border pipeline.
Though the three countries had agreement on the US$1 billion pipeline originating from Arakan in Myanmar to Kolkata, not much progress has been made due to pre-conditions set by Bangladesh for allowing its territory as a passage.
Bangladesh agreed on principle for use of its territory to carry Myanmar gas to India but tagged three proposals to the project calling for reduction of the trade imbalance with India, provision of a corridor for Nepalese goods to Bangladeshi ports and access to hydroelectric power in Bhutan.
According to Bangladesh Energy Ministry, the proposed pipeline, if allowed to run through the country, would fetch the government $500 million a year at the preliminary stage.
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