Myanmar: Chinese Influence Expands As PetroChina Acquires 119 Fuel Stations Near India Border, Raising Security Concerns

In a development raising security concerns for India in its eastern neighbourhood, China's state-owned petroleum giant, PetroChina, has taken control of numerous petrol and diesel stations in close proximity to the Myanmar-India border.

The company has acquired 119 retail fuel stations in Myanmar, with indications suggesting a potential acquisition of another 53.

Most notably, over 50 of these fuel stations were previously owned by a Singapore-based firm.

A significant portion of the acquired pumps lies in proximity to the India-Myanmar border and along the Trilateral Asia Highway, according to reports by The Economic Times.

China has been a key investor in Myanmar, prioritising projects in mines, oil and gas pipelines, and infrastructure, aiming to secure access to the Indian Ocean.

Earlier this year, an energy project funded by China in Myanmar faced an attack by anti-junta rebels shortly after a visit by the Chinese foreign minister.

The Natogyi Guerrilla Force, a local resistance group, targeted China-backed oil and gas pipelines in Myanmar's Mandalay region.

These pipelines, spanning 973 km from Myanmar's Rakhine coast to southern China, have been operational since 2013.