Imported Indian crude oil reaches Narsingdi amid fuel crisis

The maiden shipment of 25 lakh litres of crude oil imported from India reached the country on Saturday, aiming to tackle the ongoing fuel crisis.

Representatives of Bangladesh and India formally released the crude oil at Aqua Refinery jetty in Gorashal of Narsingdi in the morning.

Private company Aqua Refinery Limited imported Naphtha (crude oil) from Indian Oil Corporation Limited through Indo-Bangladesh Inland Waterways Protocol Route.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Director Rafiqul Islam, Indian Oil Corporation Limited Bangladesh Country Manager Mazhar Alam, Aqua Refinery Limited Director (operations) Irshad Hossain, Shanghai ship owner Masudur Rahman, Aqua Refinery Deputy Managing Director Sajedur Seraj, General Manager GM Jahangir Alam, among others, were present at that time.

After the refining process by Aqua Refinery, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) will buy the crude oil and provide it to the consumer level within one week.

Amid the unprecedented situation due to fuel crisis, the government recently announced suspension of production in diesel-run power plants. It resorted to one –hour area based load shedding across the country to save energy.

The government has also taken some austerity measures including reducing consumption of power at government offices to save power and energy.