Body to probe 'failure' of Petrobangla officials

The committee will also investigate the officials' failure to encash US$ 50,000 bid bond the consortium showed as paid along with the submitted tender documents, said Energy and Mineral Resources Division officials yesterday.

Energy Division's Additional Secretary Ehsanul Fattah has been made convenor of the committee. Other members are Emdadul Haq, director general of Bangladesh Petroleum Institute, and Meer Moinul Haq, strategic policy expert at Hydrocarbon Unit.

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The probe body has been asked to submit its report within a month. The committee has also been asked to make recommendations to avoid such irregularities in future.

The Energy Division initiated the probe after the consortium of Shangdong Ludi-Geo Mineral Co Ltd and Xinwen Mining Group Co Ltd wanted to revise the contract as it said there are differences between the bid documents and actual condition at Barapukuria mine.

The consortium, given responsibility for production, management and maintenance of the field, was the lowest bidder offering extraction of each ton coal at a rate of US$ 12. The current rate of extraction by CMC, another Chinese company, is US$ 30.