Govt to import 75,000 tonnes of marine fuel

The government has decided to import 75,000 tonnes of marine fuel oil or low sulphur fuel (0.5 percent sulphur) for the period of July-December this year.

Singapore-based oil distribution company Innoco Oil Pte Ltd is going to supply the fuel to Bangladesh for 222 crore taka. 

In this regard, a proposal from Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Division will be presented at Cabinet Committee on Public Procurement Wednesday (August 19), sources said.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has been importing marine fuel oil in G-to-G (Government-to-Government) system until 2003.

From 2016, half of the total demand for refined fuel oil has been imported through open tenders and the remaining half from state-owned enterprises of different countries on a G-to-G basis under term contracts.

According to a decision of Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, the import of 150,000 metric tons of marine fuel oil was allowed earlier in 2020.

In view of that approval, international quotations were called for the import of 75,000 metric tons.

Tender notice was published as per rules. When arrangements were made for sale of tender documents from Chittagong and Dhaka Liaison Offices, a total of 5 documents were sold.

The tender evaluation committee informed BPC that the bids of 4 tenders were correct. At the second meeting of the committee, the technical and financial aspects of the tender were examined and a detailed report of the tender evaluation committee was submitted.

It showed, Singapore based Innoco Oil Pte Ltd, with a premium of $37 per ton, was considered as the lowest bidder at 235.63 crore taka.

Among other three companies, Petro China (Singapore) was the highest bidder at 316.56 crore taka followed by Vital Asia Pvt Ltd (Singapore) at 260.27 crore taka and PTT International Trading Pvt Ltd at 245.09 taka.

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