Description:
"India is highly dependent on oil imports,
and approximately 70 per cent of India?s
oil is imported. By 2020 India is expected
to import 80 per cent of its energy needs.
Expecting an exponential growth in its
energy demands from an expanding
economy India has been trying hard to
secure hydrocarbon energy supplies.
Amongst other options, India has been
looking eastwards to the extensive naturalgas
reserves of Bangladesh and Myanmar,
which have become vital for India?s
economic growth. The geographic
proximity of Bangladesh and Myanmar to
India makes the import of gas not just
convenient, but an economically attractive
proposition. In addition, the energy needs
of eastern India, particularly the
northeastern states, would be better served
by gas from Myanmar and Bangladesh
rather than from reserves in Iran and other
distant fields...By failing to resolve the Indo-Bangladesh
political stalemate, India risks losing out to
Chinese firms (and other energy-hungry
nations in Southeast Asia). Therefore, Indian
officials should weigh and reconsider the
prospects of accepting (or rejecting)
Bangladesh?s demands. With regard to the
Bangladeshi trade deficit, the lifting of
trade barriers will not cost the Indian
exchequer much; in fact in the long-run, it
may help cement prospects of greater
bilateral cooperation, particularly
concerning security issues..."
Source/publisher:
Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS Special Report, No. 45, July 2007)
Date of Publication:
2007-07-00
Date of entry:
2010-12-21
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Language:
English
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Format:
pdf
Size:
132.08 KB