Dhaka: The government has sanctioned separate proposals for the acquisition of three cargos of LNG, 2.45 lakh metric tons of fertilizer, and 15,000 metric tons of rock sulphur to address the country’s escalating demand for these resources.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, these approvals were finalized during the 32nd meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase this year, convened at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat. The meeting was presided over by Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. During a briefing after the meeting, Dr. Ahmed highlighted the pressure on the government to increase energy prices, specifically gas, every month or two. However, the interim government has refrained from such hikes based on assessments by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division. He emphasized the importance of securing a steady LNG supply to avoid future price pressures that could affect consumers and industries.
The Finance Adviser disclosed that the government is acquiring LNG at a relatively reasonable cost. Through separate proposals from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, Petrobangla will procure LNG cargos from M/S Total Energies Gas and Power Limited, United Kingdom, with each cargo costing between TK 476.47 crore and TK 484.88 crore, based on the international quotation method.
Additionally, proposals from the Ministries of Industries and Agriculture led to the decision to procure various types of fertilizers. These include 30,000 metric tons of bagged granular urea from KAFCO, Bangladesh, and multiple consignments of MOP, DAP, and TSP fertilizers from international entities such as JSC ‘Foreign Economic Corporation (Prodintorg)’, OCP, NUTRICROPS from Morocco, and Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), with costs ranging from TK 154.90 crore to TK 384.45 crore.
Furthermore, the government plans to purchase 15,000 metric tons of rock sulphur from various sources, costing approximately TK 71.42 crore.