Oil pipeline launched, Bangladesh enters new era

Bangladesh is entering the era of fuel oil supply through pipeline. 5 million liters of oil will reach Dhaka region in just 12 hours through a 250-kilometer pipeline from Chittagong. This project worth 3,653 crore taka is being launched on August 16. Along with pre-commissioning, the work of central automation, telecommunication and fine tuning has been completed. 30 million liters of oil have been introduced into the pipeline on an experimental basis. Although these oils were previously transported in more than a hundred coastal ships, now the pipeline will save at least one and a half days. First, refined diesel will be taken to 9 tanks in Padma, Meghna and Jamuna. From there, the diesel will go to the Despass terminal, then it will reach Dhaka, Siddhirganj in Narayanganj and Fatulla through pumping via Comilla. This will save at least 3 billion taka annually. The Tk 3,653 crore project, which was started in October 2018 with the funding of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), was completed in March this year. Under the project, 242 kilometers of 16-inch diameter pipes have been laid from Patenga in Chittagong city to Siddhirganj in Narayanganj and another 8 kilometers of 10-inch diameter pipes have been laid from Siddhirganj to Fatulla. In addition, a petroleum depot has been established in Comilla, and reservoirs of Padma Oil and Meghna Petroleum have been set up in Siddhirganj and Jamuna Oil and Meghna Petroleum in Fatulla. Petroleum Transmission Company Project Director Engineer Md. Aminul Haque said that fuel can be sent to various depots through pipelines from the Siddhirganj and Fatulla depots in Narayanganj. It will take only 12 hours to reach Narayanganj from Chittagong. Built under the supervision of Padma Oil Company and implemented by the 24th Construction Brigade of the Bangladesh Army, this project incorporates cutting-edge technology. Especially, the security of oil supply of the entire pipeline can be ensured from the Patenga control room. This project will generate an annual income of Tk 326 crore. BPC officials say that even though Tk 90 crore will be spent, at least Tk 234 crore will be saved. Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation Chairman Md. Amin ul Ahsan said that during oil transactions through this pipeline, the oil supply of the entire pipeline can be monitored from the control room. 30 percent of the country’s total fuel demand is used in Dhaka and its surrounding areas. Although the target of supplying 1.5 million metric tons of diesel per year was set in the first phase, this pipeline will be expanded to Baghabari-Ashuganj and Bhairab in the future. This will increase the oil supply by 600,000 metric tons to 2.1 million metric tons.