The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The government yesterday approved import of 150,000 metric tones of petroleum fuels and 20,000 metric tons of non-urea (MOP) from various countries.

The approval came at a meeting of the Advisers' Committee on Public Purchase with LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal in the chair at cabinet division in the secretariat.

According to the meeting the 150,000 metric tonnes of petroleum fuels to be imported from a company of the Maldives will cost the country US$183.44 million worth Tk 1273.07 crore.

Of the total imports, 90,000 tonnes are diesel, 30,000 tonnes jet fuel and another 30,000 tonnes octane.

The Male-based state-owned Maldives National Oil Company Ltd (MNOC) will supply the bulk fuels from its Singapore-based refinery. The premium for the import has been fixed at US$ 5.19 per barrel for diesel, US$ 5.60 for jet fuel and US$ 7.50 for octane.

After the meeting Adviser Anwarul Iqbal told newsmen that the Maldivian company's premium offer was found lowest although they are not a petroleum-rich country.

"We have chosen the Maldives as an alternative country for outsourcing petroleum as the conventional exporting countries were doing monopoly," he said.

According to the approval 20,000 metric tonnes of non-urea (MOP) fertiliser will be from Russia at a cost of Tk 159.81 crore.

Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) will make the fertiliser import at the rate of US$1151 per ton.

Anwarul Iqbal said the government went for the bulk import of fertiliser to meet emergency needs in the ensuing winter-crop cultivation.

He said at present, the country has a stock of 15,000 tones of MOP fertilisers.

A proposal of the Housing and Works Ministry was also approved by the meeting for earth-filling works under Purbachal Model Town project at a cost of Tk 16.17 crore.