Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Numaligarh Refinery (NRL) have signed an agreement 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 and petrochemical products per month from IWAI Jogighopa multi modal terminal.
“NRL is setting 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 EXIM trade for the mortheast region,” Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said.
The MoU was signed by A Selva Kumar, Director, IWAI and Subrata Das, Chief General Manager (Marketing), NRL.
Under this MoU, the IWAI will provide its terminal for cargo movement, along with 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.
Commenting on the development, Union Minister for Ports Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said, “NRL is in the process of executing the Numaligarh Refinery Expansion Project (NREP), a refinery expansion cum modernisation project with a capex of Rs 28,026 crore. As part of the project, NRL shall transport over 16 number of over dimension consignment/overweight consignment (ODC/OWC). Already five ODC packages have been transported successfully from major industrial hubs in western India to NRL project site via the Haldia Port and through the IBPR and NW2. The weight of cargo transported till now amount to approximately 4,500 MT and if it was transported via roadways would have required about 300 trucks.”
Highlighting the role of inland waterways, Sonowal said, the IWAI and Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways has been making transformational changes in the waterways sector in India over the last 9 years.
He said that cargo handled on National Waterways during 2013-14 was a mere 6.89 MMT whereas the cargo handled in 2022-23 rose to 126.15 MMT, clocking an exceptionally rate of 1734 per cent growth.
National Waterways for Cruise Tourism rose from only 3 in 2013-14 to 10 in 2022-23 marking an increase of over 233 per cent. The investment in waterways has gone up to Rs 544.31 crore in 2022-23, registering a record growth of 198 per cent in last nine years.
In the northeast, the minister said that 20 national waterways and various projects of more than Rs 800 crore are being implemented for development. Permanent terminals have been developed at Pandu and Dhubri. During last two years, Dhubri terminal has been extensively used and 385 cargo vessels moved from Dhubri to Bangladesh.
“Today, the rejuvenated waterways of the region is bringing in transformative transportation solutions powering the growth engine of India – the northeast. This growth story remains robust as the powerful implementation of Act East Policy took flight to reach new zenith of growth and development for the Northeast region,” Sonowal added.
