India’s ‘Oil Diplomacy’ In The Neighbourhood: South Asia’s First Petroleum Pipeline Inaugurated Between India And Nepal

In a boost to the India-Nepal relationship, South Asia’s first cross-border petroleum products pipeline from Motihari in India to Amlekhgunj in Nepal was inaugurated today (10 September).

The connectivity project, with a capacity of 2 million metric ton per annum has been completed ahead of schedule. Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, and the Nepali PM K P Oli have inaugurated the project together via video conferencing.

The 69-km long Motihari-Amlekhgunj pipeline will help provide cleaner petroleum products at affordable cost to the people of Nepal. The Nepali PM said that the cost of petroleum products in Nepal will go down by Rs 2 per litre with the project in place.

With Nepal being landlocked, most of its petroleum product needs are met through imports from India and the project will help in speeding up the trade. Oli expressed appreciation for the project being completed ahead of the schedule and invited PM Modi to a visit to Nepal which the Indian minister accepted.