Govt takes initiative involving Tk 2,868.17 crore for transportation of petroleum

The government initiated a move to implement a Taka 2,868.17 crore pipeline project for transporting white petroleum from Chattogram to Dhaka and Chandpur in a fair and uninterrupted way. 

“The Planning Commission has received a draft project proposal to this end from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division,” said a senior Planning Commission official. 

The official told BSS that Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) is the implementing agency for the project titled ‘Pipeline for transportation of white petroleum from Chattogram to Chandpur with an estimated cost of Taka 2,868.17 crore to be implemented by June 2020. 

Twenty four brigade construction of Bangladesh Army is the executing agency for the project on behalf of Padma Oil Company Limited. 

The project will be implemented at Chattogram City Corporation, Cumilla City Corporation, Bhatiary, Sitakundu, Mirersarai, Feni, Choddogram, Laksam, Borura, Kochua, Hajiganj, Chandpur Sadar, Narayanganj City Corporation, Siddhirganj, Fatullah and Gazaria. 

The main project operations include detailed engineering design and drawing for underground petroleum oil pipeline from Chattogram to Dhaka, procurement of LPE coated pipeline, four high-powered pumps, valve, static equipment, rotating equipment, erection of 237.71 kilometer long 16-inch diameter underground petroleum pipeline from Chattogram to Godnail, erection of 8.29 kilometer pipeline from Godnail to Fatullah having a diameter of 10 inch, and erection of 59.23 kilometer long 6-inch diameter pipeline from Cumilla to Chandpur. 

According to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, the annual demand of petroleum products in the country is 55 lakh tonnes while this demand is rising day by day due to the scarcity of gas. The demand of petroleum products will further rise if no new gas field is explored in the country. 

The annual demand of fuel oil in Dhaka and the adjoining areas is 15 lakh tonnes while the demand is being met from Godnail depot in Dhaka and  Fatullah depot in Narayanganj. Besides, the annual demand of fuel oil in three depots in Chandpur is 1.55 lakh tonnes. 

Currently, fuel oil is being transported from the main depot in Chattogram to Godnail, Fatullah and Chandpur and once the project is implemented, fuel oil will be transported through pipeline. 

At present, 90 percent of fuel oil is being transported through the waterways while the oil marketing companies use around 200 coastal oil tankers for transporting this oil. But, due to the declining trend of navigability in the waterways and rivers, it has become tough for the marineoil tankers to transport oil in a speedy manner. 

Under the circumstances, the project has been drafted considering the future demand of the country in a bid to transport fuel oil in a modern way and speedy manner, reducing the fuel transportation time, simplifying the process for fuel transportation, and thus making the fuel transportation uninterrupted, time efficient, less risky and environment-friendly.