Online Desk  :   Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Aramco, the world’s largest oil producer, has expressed its willingness to establish a refinery in Bangladesh, potentially transforming the country’s petroleum production capacity and benefiting the broader Bay of Bengal region. Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh, Essa Youssef Essa Al Duhailan, made the announcement on Sunday during a report launch at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “We are talking about Aramco, the biggest oil company in the world. They are willing to come to Bangladesh to build a refinery here,” the Ambassador said, highlighting the potential positive impact such a project could have both domestically and regionally.

Ambassador Duhailan recalled Aramco’s prior engagement with Bangladesh, noting that the company sent a high-level delegation to the country three times between 2016 and 2018. However, the initiative did not gain traction then. “But we will not talk about the past. We will talk about the future,” he added optimistically. The announcement was made during the launch of a report titled “Enhancing Saudi-Bangladesh Economic Engagement: Trends, Key Challenges & Long-term Growth Prospects” at the Foreign Ministry auditorium.

The event featured Finance and Science and Technology Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed as the chief guest and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain as the special guest. Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin presided over the programme. Dr Md Nazrul Islam, Secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered the welcome address, while M Masrur Reaz, Chairman and CEO of Policy Exchange, presented key insights from the report.

If Aramco’s plans materialise, the refinery would not only enhance Bangladesh’s energy security but also position the country as a key player in petroleum production in the region. This aligns with Bangladesh’s aspirations for deeper economic collaboration with Saudi Arabia, as outlined in the newly launched report. Further discussions are expected to take place between Aramco and Bangladeshi authorities to explore the feasibility and specifics of the proposed project.