SPM may go into operation in December

Construction of the Single Point Mooring (SPM) in Maheshkhali, aimed at offloading imported fuel oils and petroleum products at reduced cost and time, is likely to end this year as 88 per cent works have been completed.

Concerned officials said the remaining 12 per cent work is likely to be completed by December.

They said SPM's pre-commissioning test will be held in December after the completion of the total construction work.

They said the total cost of the project is estimated to be over Tk 54.26 billion (Tk 5426.26 crore). Of which, Chinese Exim Bank is funding Tk 42.93 billion. The Bangladesh government is financing Tk 10.02 billion while the remaining Tk 1.11 billion will be funnelled by the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).

Once commissioned, the SPM will have an annual unloading capacity of 9.0 million tonnes of fuel oil. It will be able to unload 120,000 tonnes of crude oil in 48 hours and 70,000 tonnes of diesel in 28 hours. Under the project, three crude oil tanks (each having net capacity of 50,000 m³), three HSD tanks (each having net capacity of 30,000 m³), main pumps, booster pumps and other pumps will be constructed.

Besides, installation of generator for power production and supply, housing facilities, administrative and other buildings, pigging system, custody metering system, security system with several installations or structures and installation to house a firefighting unit will be built.

Contacted, Project Director Engineer Sharif Hasnat acknowledged that 88 per cent of the total work was completed in August while the rest is likely to be done by Dec next.

Noting that a total of 220 kilometres long double pipelines have already been set up he said six tanks for storing fuel oils and other essential infrastructures have also been constructed.

"Dutch firm 'Blue Water' has manufactured the SPM and pipeline under the supervision of a Chinese organisation named China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company Ltd (CPPECL)," he said.

He mentioned that the Chinese state-owned CPPECL has been appointed as Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor while Germany-based ILF Consulting Engineers is engaged as a consultant.

He expressed the hope that the SPM will start operation after pre-commissioning test before the end of 2022.

Officials said, SPM is one of the top priority projects of the Energy Division as once completed it will substantially save the cost of fuel transportation.

Under the project, a 220-kilometre-long double pipeline, storage tanks and pump station will be built in Moheshkhali. Besides, the installation of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) will be there.

The BPC started construction of the project in 2012 aiming to transport imported crude oil to the state-owned Eastern Refinery Limited at Patenga in Chattogram and reduce the transportation cost of the oil, and also ensure quick and direct unloading of the same from deep sea vessels.

[email protected]