DHAKA, June 24, 2018 (BSS) – 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 marine
oil 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.