Move to import 1.4m tonnes crude oil

Bangladesh will import 1.4 million tonnes of crude oil from Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi for the current fiscal year (2017-18) to meet the domestic requirement.

Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on Wednesday approved two separate proposals placed by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division in this regard.

Cabinet Division additional secretary Mustafizur Rahman informed that the bulk petroleum will be imported under the government-to-government contracts and about Tk. 49.01 billion would be spent for the imports.

The committee, with Finance Minister AMA Muhith in the chair, also approved a number of procurement proposals placed by different ministries.

A proposal of the home ministry to purchase two tag boats for the Coast Guard received the nod of the committee.

The committee gave nod to a proposal of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) to import 100,000 metric tons of granular bagged urea fertiliser on an emergency basis.

According to UNB, the committee approved two proposals of Energy and Mineral Resources Division to procure some equipment and drilling works for Kashba-1 and Begumganj-3 gas wells under the Seedy Enhancement of Power and Energy Supply (Special) Act.

The committee also approved a cost extension proposal for rehabilitation works of Kalukhali-Vatiapara section of rail lines and new construction works of Kashiani-Gopalganj-Tungipara rail tracks.

A proposal to appointment a consultant at a cost of Tk. 441.5 million for operation and management (O&M) of e-GP system in Bangladesh under "Digitizing implementation Monitoring and Public Procurement Project" received the committee's nod.