Bangladesh is poised to import 14.25 lakh tonnes of refined fuel from eight companies across seven countries during the first half of 2024, spanning January to June.
Nations supplying the fuel include India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Oman.
The total expenditure for the imports is estimated at $960 million, which translates to approximately Tk11,479 crore.
The proposal for these fuel imports was approved at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase, held at the Secretariat and chaired by Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Thursday (2 January), said to meeting sources.
Sources revealed that the imports will be conducted on a government-to-government (G2G) basis.
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) received in-principle approval for this procurement during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 24 October.
Among the eight companies involved, two are from China—PetroChina and UNIPEC—while the remaining six represent other countries.
These include Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) from India, BSP from Indonesia, PTLSCL from Malaysia, PTTT from Thailand, OQ Trading from Oman, and UNOC from the UAE.
According to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, the imported fuel will comprise 8.8 lakh tonnes of gas oil, 1.9 lakh tonnes of Jet A-1 fuel, 75,000 tonnes of Mogas, 2.5 lakh tonnes of furnace oil, and 30,000 tonnes of marine fuel.
This procurement aims to ensure an uninterrupted energy supply for the country's diverse needs, including transportation, industry, and power generation.
