Guwahati - Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal attended the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) to use National Waterways-2 (Brahmaputra) and Indo Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR) for export of petroleum products to Bangladesh and other south east Asian countries in Guwahati, Assam.

The MoU is aimed at powering PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to boost India’s Act East Policy. NRL will export around 10,000 MT of Petroleum & Petrochemical products per month from IWAI Jogighopa Multi Modal terminal. NRL to set up POL Oil Terminal at Jogighopa Logistics Park with rail connectivity. This MoU is aimed at fulfilling the ‘Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for Northeast’ by enabling inland waterways transportation via NW2 and IBPR, unveiling a new chapter of export-import trade for the Northeast region.  

Speaking on the occasion Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “It is watershed moment for inland waterways for promotion of trade in the Northeast India region. The MoU is aimed at powering the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to bring in transformative change in the cargo movement for the region. Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the visionary Act East policy is empowering the Northeast India towards unlocking the full potential of Hydrocarbon vision 2030. Modi ji has realised that the Northeast India has the potential to become the engine of India’s growth story. Our rich inter web of our waterbodies and rich potential of hydrocarbon must be explored in the best possible manner to power the Northeast region towards realisation of this vision of PM Shri Narendra Modi ji.”

The MoU was signed by A Selva Kumar, Director, IWAI and Subrata Das, Chief General Manager (Marketing), NRL. Under this MoU, the IWAI to provide its terminal for cargo movement, providing technical support, land to lay down petroleum pipeline, bunkering facilities to be operated at various places en-route IBPR, provide assistance through its vessels, technical assistance in making available vessels like Tugs, Work Boards, Survey vessels    and other vessels as and when required. NRL will provide 40 acres of land with a provision of getting connected to nearest Railway station at Jogighopa; erect the loading and unloading facility; as well as realisation of a vision to transport 10,000 MT of Petroleum & petrochemicals products per month through NW - 2 and IBPR from IWAI jetty at the Jogighopa MMT Park.