Govt approves import of 2.6 lakh more tonnes of fuel
The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) today approved the import of another 2.6 lakh tonnes of fuel oil, as the government moves to safeguard national energy reserves against the backdrop of the US-Israel war on Iran.
The committee authorised the direct purchase of 1 lakh tonnes of crude oil from Abeer Trade & Global Markets.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The government opted for a direct procurement route, bypassing the standard competitive tender process, citing urgent domestic energy requirements amid the continuing war on Iran.
The conflict has introduced significant uncertainty into global oil shipping corridors, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial share of Asia-bound crude transits.
To mitigate supply chain risk, the government is also diversifying fuel imports as traditional shipping routes face disruption and fears of nationwide shortages grow amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The CCGP today also approved the import of one lakh tonnes of EN590-10 PPM low-sulphur diesel from Exxon Mobil Kazakhstan Inc (EMKI) via direct purchase.
A further 60,000 tonnes of 0.5 percent sulphur gas oil (diesel) will be imported from Indonesia's state-linked PT Bumi Siak Pusako Zapin (BSP Zapin) under a government-to-government (G2G) framework.
Earlier on March 26, the government authorised the emergency purchase of 3 lakh tonnes of diesel following two proposals from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division.
Before that, on March 22, the government wrote to the United States, requesting permission to import up to 6,00,000 tonnes of refined fuel from Russia or, alternatively, to obtain a waiver for at least two months, according to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
Since the war started, Bangladesh has also received some 17,000 tonnes of diesel from India under an existing arrangement. Two additional shipments, each estimated at around 6,000 tonnes, are expected from Indonesia.
For the agriculture sector, the CCGP approved the import of 35,000 tonnes of MOP fertiliser from Russia’s JSC “Foreign Economic Corporation (Prodintorg)”.
The procurement, to be implemented by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), is valued at Tk 154.89 crore, with each tonne priced at $360.53.
While 10 proposals were placed before the committee, several, including pulse procurement and telecom equipment for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, were withdrawn.
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