To maintain an uninterrupted gas supply during global geopolitical tensions, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs granted in-principle approval on Thursday to several proposals, most notably the urgent acquisition of eight liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from four foreign vendors via the direct procurement method (DPM).

The approvals were issued during the 24th session of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs for the current year, convened at the Cabinet Division Conference Room within the Bangladesh Secretariat under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.

To address pressing domestic gas demand, the panel endorsed policy clearance to buy two LNG cargoes apiece from United Kingdom-based Blackcube International Ltd, Australia-based Global Fuel Supplies Pte Ltd, Malaysia-based Plentitude Energy Sdn Bhd, and Oman-based Maxwell International SPC using international direct procurement.

According to official meeting documents, these emergency procurements were put forward in response to heightened geopolitical volatility stemming from conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

Additionally, the committee granted policy endorsement for purchasing 5,000 metric tons (±5%) of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Speed Marketing Corporation (Speed Group) through direct international procurement at Saudi Aramco Contract Price (CP) plus USD 97 per metric ton on a CFR basis.

The LPG shipment, composed of 35–40 percent propane and 60–65 percent butane, is designed to meet urgent domestic demand, expand state participation in the LPG market, and assist in stabilizing market prices.

Regarding the public transit sector, the committee cleared policy approval for a government-funded initiative under the Direct Procurement Method (DPM) to acquire approximately 200 electric buses—including dedicated vehicles for female commuters—for the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC), alongside building charging stations and necessary supporting infrastructure.

Conversely, a submission requesting policy clearance for the draft "Bangladesh Onshore Model Production Sharing Contract (PSC) 2026 (Plain Lands)", presented by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, was withdrawn during the meeting.