Indian company likely to export diesel to Burma soon Indian company likely to export diesel to Burma soon By Surajit Khaund Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com) December 15, 2004 GUWAHATI, Dec 11: To carry forward the 'Look East Policy' and explore the oil market, Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) is likely to export diesel to Burma soon. The NRL is now having talks with Myanmar Petroleum Product Enterprise (MPPE) to finalize the deal. "We have given an attractive package to buy our product and we are now waiting for their reply," BK Das, managing director of NRL, said in an exclusive interview with this correspondent. Das said 'Myanmar'is keen to buy products from NRL to reduce transportation cost. An NRL delegation led by Das met recently wirh MPPE, a leading oil company in Burma, at which MPPE representatives sought help from the NRL to push forward the deal. Explaining the outcome of the meeting, Das said that because NRL is located very near the Burma border, MPPE is keen to buy products from India. "During our presentation we convinced them that the entire demand of 'Northwest Myanmar' can be met by transporting products by road via the Moreh -Tamu border. The MPPE also sought help from NRL to build a depot at Tamu, the Burma border point," he said. The total demand for petroleum products in Burma is around 3.5 million metric tons per annum (MMTA) of which 2.5 MMTA is met by local production from three refineries and the rest by import from Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. According to available information, Thanlyn refinery produces 25,000 barrels (bbl) per day while Mann and Chauk produce 27,000 and 5,000 bbl per day respectively. On the other hand, the demand for petroleum products in Rangoon is estimated to be 50% while the demand in the Mandalay and Bora regions is 30% and 20% respectively. "Since our refinery is very near the border point we can meet their requirements and I am optimistic that we will be able to seal the deal," he added. With the improvement of relations between India and Burma, Indian companies are now making efforts to explore markets in Burma and the Indian oil companies in particular have already signed agreements with the junta government. Moreover a huge reservoir of oil and gas in Myanmar is yet to be explored for which the (Myanmar) government has invited Indian companies to start operations. Regarding prospects for the Burmese market, Das observed that it has emerged as a potential market, hence NRL is keen to strengthen its toe-hold in Burma by exporting diesel. ~