7,000 tonnes of diesel coming through pipeline from India

The ongoing war in the Middle East has put pressure on the country’s fuel supply as international shipping has become uncertain. In this situation, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has emphasized on importing diesel through pipelines in addition to sea routes. As part of this, 7,000 tonnes of diesel have started being imported from India’s Numaligarh refinery.
Oil has started coming through the pipeline from the evening of Saturday (March 28). It may take another one to two days for the entire consignment to arrive. BPC Chairman Md. Rezanur Rahman said that there is no fear of fuel shortage for the time being as alternative supply systems are in place.
According to relevant sources, the country’s agriculture, road transport and power generation are most dependent on diesel. As a result, even a minor disruption in supply can have a major impact. While 17 ships carrying diesel were scheduled to arrive this month, 9 have arrived so far. One ship is on the way and the schedule of the remaining 7 is still uncertain. In this situation, dependence on the pipeline has increased. About 15,000 tons of diesel have already arrived from India. Earlier, 5,000 tons of diesel were supplied from March 25.
Officials say that the cost of fuel transportation has increased due to the conflict in the Middle East and there has been a shortage of ships in the international market. As a result, it has become difficult to maintain the scheduled schedule. In this situation, the pipeline is being seen as a relatively stable and reliable alternative.
It is worth noting that the Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline was built in 2017 based on an agreement with the Numaligarh Refinery, which was commissioned in December 2022. Diesel reaches the Parbatipur depot in Dinajpur directly through this pipeline, which is about 130 kilometers long. According to the agreement, 120,000 tons of diesel is supposed to be supplied annually and there is also a scope for supplying an additional 60,000 tons.
However, due to limited storage capacity, it is not possible to import a large amount of oil at once. Currently, it is possible to bring 7,000 tons of oil due to the convenience of quick unloading. The cost of transporting diesel through pipelines is about $5.50 per barrel, which is lower than by sea in many cases.
According to energy analysts, while developing alternative supply systems is essential in times of global instability, its full benefits will not be realized without increasing long-term storage capacity. Concerns have already been expressed about diesel supply in some areas. Maintaining normal supply has become a major challenge with the agricultural season ahead. According to BPC data, diesel accounts for about 63 percent of the country’s total energy demand. Diesel demand in the 2024-25 fiscal year was about 4.35 million tons, a large part of which is dependent on imports.