India is aware of reports that Bangladesh has cancelled a proposed agreement with the Darshan Hiranandani-led H-Energy group to supply gas, but New Delhi is unlikely to intervene in the matter.
The Mumbai-based company was to supply regasified liquified natural gas (LNG) to the energy deficient neighbour.
Bangladesh media reported in April that state-owned Petrobangla is close to signing agreements on import of regasified LNG from an Indian private company through a cross-border pipeline.
However, a recent report on Twitter suggested that the Bangladesh government is planning to cancel the project and imports after a US company, Excelerate Energy, which already has operations in Bangladesh, showed an interest in expanding its supplies to the country.
New Delhi is "aware" of the reports concerning the Hiranandani-led H Energy and Bangladesh, said a senior official in the know of the developments.
"The (Indian) government would not intervene in this matter. It concerns with a private company. There are several other significant issues that can be taken up," the official added.
According to Bangladesh media report, a 65-km pipeline was to be laid from Satkhira to Khulna in Bangladesh to transport gas from India. The plan was to import 300 million cubic feet of LNG daily through the pipeline.
Meanwhile in October Excelerate CEO Steven Kobos had met with Bangladesh's Chief Advisory Prof Muhammad Yunus, who heads the interim government, in Dhaka in mid-October.
Kobos was quoted as saying the company wants to "scale up and ensure a smooth supply of Liquefied Natural Gas" to the country. It said the company also plans to invest in decarbonization projects in Bangladesh, quoting a press statement issued on 15 October.
However, Bangladesh media in mid October reported that the interim government has decided not to sign an agreement with Excelerate Energy to build another regasification plant for liquefied natural gas (LNG).
It said an Excelerate delegation headed by former US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter D. Haas, who is now a strategic adviser to Excelerate, had met with Petrobangla officials. It said there are currently two FSRUs that in Bangladesh - one run by the Summit Group and the other by Excelerate Energy.
"The previous government awarded the works under the controversial Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply Act 2010 without any tender process," it quoted a top Petrobangla official as saying.
H-Energy declined to comment on the issue while queries mailed to the union petroleum minister, external affairs minister, Petrobangla, Excelerate Energy and the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi and the US Embassy in Dhaka remained unanswered till press time. —Mint (India)
