The government has approved the import of two spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from Singapore at an estimated cost of Tk 1,356 crore, as part of efforts to ensure stable energy supply amid rising demand.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) held on Wednesday at the Secretariat, chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.
According to meeting sources, the LNG will be procured through the international quotation method under the Public Procurement Rules 2025, following a proposal from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division.
Under the approved plan, the 31st LNG cargo is scheduled for delivery on July 14–15, while the 33rd cargo will arrive on July 20–21.
Of the two cargoes, one will be sourced from Aramco Trading Singapore Pte Ltd and the other from Gunvor Singapore Pte Ltd, both selected as the lowest evaluated bidders.
Officials said the move reflects the government’s continued reliance on the spot market to bridge gas supply gaps, particularly during peak demand periods.
Earlier, on June 17, the CCGP approved the import of two LNG cargoes from the spot market, while on June 3 it cleared the purchase of another cargo from BP Singapore Pte Ltd.
Energy sector insiders noted that frequent spot purchases, though costly, remain necessary to maintain uninterrupted gas supply for power generation and industrial use.
Tk 812cr approved for lentils, edible oil procurement
In a separate development, the committee approved four proposals worth about Tk 812.31 crore for procuring lentils and edible oil to be distributed among low-income households through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
The approvals include the purchase of 10,000 tonnes of lentils from a local supplier at Tk 81.47 per kg, costing Tk 81.47 crore, and 12,500 tonnes through international tender at $559 per tonne.
The government also cleared the procurement of 20 million litres of palm olein at Tk 183.95 per litre and another 20 million litres of soybean oil at Tk 164.77 per litre to support subsidised distribution among one crore families.
Fertiliser import to support agriculture
The CCGP also approved the import and procurement of 60,000 tonnes of fertiliser to ensure adequate supply for the agriculture sector.
This includes 30,000 tonnes of TSP fertiliser from Morocco’s OCP Nutricrops at a cost of Tk 263.63 crore and 30,000 tonnes of urea from Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited at Tk 199.94 crore.
Officials said the move would help maintain sufficient fertiliser stocks and support uninterrupted distribution to farmers during the current fiscal year.
Youth employability project gets Tk 1,103cr boost
Meanwhile, the committee approved 10 proposals worth Tk 1,103.54 crore under a youth development project aimed at enhancing employability of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).
The project will be implemented through vocational training centres across the country, with major NGOs and development organisations engaged as service providers.
Officials said the initiative is designed to build market-oriented skills and improve economic resilience among youth.
Overall, the meeting approved a total of 20 procurement proposals from various ministries, underscoring the government’s ongoing efforts to manage energy supply, food security, agricultural inputs and employment generation simultaneously.