KATHMANDU, Aug 22: The Nepal-India Joint Working Group (JWG) on oil and gas cooperation held the second meeting through video conferencing on August 13.

While expressing satisfaction on the functioning of the Motihari-Amlekhgunj Petroleum Products Pipeline, the meeting discussed future areas of cooperation in the petroleum energy sector. The pipeline was jointly inaugurated and operationalized by the prime ministers of both countries in September last year. The pipeline, first of its kind in the South Asia region, has been supplying the majority of fuel requirements of Nepal to Amlekhgunj Depot of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC).  

During the meeting, both sides encouraged their respective companies to work closely for expanding engagement in the petroleum sector. The JWG also discussed the possibilities of new pipelines for supply of petroleum products to Nepal.  

Representatives from the ministries of finance and foreign affairs of Nepal and NOC, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, Indian Public Sector Oil and Gas companies such as IOCL, GAIL and HPCL, participated in the JWG meeting which was co-chaired by Prem Kumar Shrestha, joint secretary at Nepal’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Supplies and BN Reddy, joint secretary at India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. 

The JWG mechanism was set up in 2017 with an objective to further strengthen the long standing cooperation between IOCL and NOC and diversify areas of cooperation between the two countries in the oil and gas sector. 

The first meeting of the JWG was held in January earlier this year in New Delhi.

 
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