BPC seeks commerce ministry land for free to build an oil terminal in Narayanganj

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) wants a property currently owned by the ministry of commerce for constructing a pipeline at Fatullah of Narayanganj under Dhaka-Chittagong fuel oil pipeline project.

The corporation needs some 1.92 acres of land and a fund has also been allocated so that BPC could purchase such a property.

However, BPC wants the property---Elahi Box Company Ltd---now shut, for free by taking a 99-year lease from the commerce ministry, an official said.

To complete the scheme---Dhaka-Chattogram fuel oil pipeline project--- the government gave its administrative approval and estimated a cost worth Tk 3,171,85 crore in November of 2017.

However, a sum of Tk 1,687.83 crore has already been spent until December 31, 2021 for some physical works.

The commerce ministry official said they want to sell the land but BPC wants it for free.

The commerce ministry is supposed to sit with some BPC officials to make a way out on Wednesday.

About 30 lakh tonnes of fuel oil is transported by sea from Chittagong to Dhaka every year. In this sector, BPC loses dozens of crore taka as system loss every year.

Besides, the oil tankers from Chittagong take longer to reach Dhaka. The BPC under the Energy and Mineral Resources Division is constructing Dhaka-Chittagong Pipeline to ensure energy security and save both time and money.

According to BPC sources, they had done the feasibility study of this project back in June, 2015.

The government took a policy decision on December 14, 2017 to implement the project through an army-run company under the supervision of Padma Oil Company. The length of the pipeline will be about 249.57 km. Of this, some 241.28 km stretch of pipes will have a diameter of 16-inch and will be set beneath the ground with seven stations from Chittagong to Godnail in Narayanganj. The remaining 8.29 km will be built through a 10-inch diameter pipeline with two stations from Godnail to Fatullah. About nine kilometers of pipeline will be laid under 22 rivers through HDD (higher data storage) technology.

Meanwhile, some 284.92 acres of land has already been acquired for the project across 19 upazilas in Chittagong, Feni, Cumilla, Chandpur, Munshiganj and Narayanganj districts. Under this project, a new depot will be built at Barura in Comilla.

Officials said the project cost and deadline have been expanded twice but none is sure when the scheme will be completed.