BD team in Russia to finalise deal with Gazprom
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
FE Report
A 10-member Bangladesh delegation is now visiting Moscow to finalise a deal with Russian oil and gas company Gazprom over energy sector cooperation, official sources said Tuesday. The team comprising experts on gas well drilling and setting up compression stations will hold discussions with top Gazprom officials as the follow-up of the recent visit of the Russian state-owned gas firm Gazprom team to Bangladesh. Gazprom has already agreed to drill five gas wells in state-owned gas fields from October, 2011. During last month's visit led by Director General of Gazprom EP International B.V Valery Gulev, the Russian firm also showed interest to install two compression stations at two important locations preferably in Ashuganja and Elenga. Officials said Gazprom will be the first foreign company to drill gas wells in state-owned gas fields in Bangladesh under state-to-state negotiation. Bangladesh can award any contract or project works to any state-owned firm based on negotiation bypassing tender process under the current law of the land. Petrobangla officials said Gazprom has also agreed to help the government undertake a strategic gas sector master plan for smooth development of the country's energy sector. It has also decided to open an office in Dhaka and strengthen energy sector cooperation with Petrobangla. The government has sought Gazprom's cooperation to develop the ailing energy sector because of capacity constraints of state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (Bapex) and Gas Transmission Company Ltd (GTCL) in undertaking necessary project works in energy sector. A follow-up team from Gazprom will arrive on May 11 next to move forward the planned project work and establish first-ever energy sector cooperation between Gazprom and Petrobangla.
A 10-member Bangladesh delegation is now visiting Moscow to finalise a deal with Russian oil and gas company Gazprom over energy sector cooperation, official sources said Tuesday. The team comprising experts on gas well drilling and setting up compression stations will hold discussions with top Gazprom officials as the follow-up of the recent visit of the Russian state-owned gas firm Gazprom team to Bangladesh. Gazprom has already agreed to drill five gas wells in state-owned gas fields from October, 2011. During last month's visit led by Director General of Gazprom EP International B.V Valery Gulev, the Russian firm also showed interest to install two compression stations at two important locations preferably in Ashuganja and Elenga. Officials said Gazprom will be the first foreign company to drill gas wells in state-owned gas fields in Bangladesh under state-to-state negotiation. Bangladesh can award any contract or project works to any state-owned firm based on negotiation bypassing tender process under the current law of the land. Petrobangla officials said Gazprom has also agreed to help the government undertake a strategic gas sector master plan for smooth development of the country's energy sector. It has also decided to open an office in Dhaka and strengthen energy sector cooperation with Petrobangla. The government has sought Gazprom's cooperation to develop the ailing energy sector because of capacity constraints of state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (Bapex) and Gas Transmission Company Ltd (GTCL) in undertaking necessary project works in energy sector. A follow-up team from Gazprom will arrive on May 11 next to move forward the planned project work and establish first-ever energy sector cooperation between Gazprom and Petrobangla.