"Myanmar is reportedly planning to open fresh bids for its oil and gas blocks to international companies. In the last few years, the Myanmar government has taken concrete steps to restructure its energy sector and has identified natural gas as an important component of its energy master plan. This is a welcome development for India, which has substantial experience of operating in Myanmar’s energy sector. Besides, both India and Myanmar are keen to expand the scope of cooperation in the realm of energy sector. Earlier, though India could not secure the deal to build a gas pipeline from Myanmar to India’s eastern region, India has continued to remain engaged with the energy sector of its eastern neighbour. For instance, India has positioned itself as a key stakeholder in the China-Myanmar gas pipeline. The indication of possible bidding rounds for energy blocks this year can provide an opportunity for India to leverage its experience of having operated in Myanmar for more than a decade. India now has a good understanding of the political economy of energy development and the nuances of decision making in Myanmar. But having said that, India must be careful and not underestimate the regional complications that might impact India-Myanmar energy relations. The issue of Rohingya refugees has historically existed between Bangladesh and Myanmar, but the magnitude of the problem has substantially increased in recent years. Also, the possibility of gas trade between India and Myanmar would be contingent upon the “availability of surplus energy” with the latter, as argued by ORF researchers Anasua Basu Ray Chaudhury and Pratnashree Basu in their research paper..."