The Bangladesh government is set to import 15 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil in from the UAE and Saudi Arab for the state-run Eastern Refinery in 2026 spending Tk 11,863cr, aiming to offset higher cost of refined fuel import.
The Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase in a meeting chaired by Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed cleared two separate procurement proposals in this regard on Tuesday.
Additionally, the interim government will spend Tk 10,826 crore to import 13.80 lakh metric tonnes of refined fuel oil from seven companies from six countries under government to government arrangement to the country’s demand for the first six months of 2026. The volume of import was not available immediately.
Of the refined petroleum products to be imported, gas oil will account for 890,000 metric tonnes, Jet A-1 fuel 185,000 tonnes, gasoline 100,000 tonnes, furnace oil 175,000 tonnes, and marine fuel 30,000 tonnes.
The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) also got a green signal to import 1.8 lakh tonnes refined diesel from India’s Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) for January-December period at a cost of Tk 1,462 crore.
Bangladesh has been importing diesel from NRL since 2016 under a 15-year agreement. Since March 18, 2023, supplies have been delivered through the India–Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline.
Under a proposal of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, seven lakh tonnes of Murban grade crude oil will be imported for Eastern Refinery from ADNOC, Abu Dhabi at an approved cost of nearly Tk 5,543 crore.
Another eight lakh metric tonnes of Arabian Light Crude (ALC) grade oil will be imported from the oil giant Saudi Arab’s Aramco, which will cost the Bangladesh government Tk 6,320 crore.
Responding to questions from journalists about continuing diesel imports from India amid recent tensions over the suspension of Indian Premier League (IPL) broadcasts in Bangladesh, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan said the diesel import is being carried out under a long-term agreement.
“This is a 15-year contract that was signed long ago. We did not initiate this agreement; the imports are being made in line with the existing contract,” he said.