Bangladesh is set to bolster its fuel reserves with the arrival of 336,379 metric tons of diesel this March, providing much-needed relief to the national energy supply.
The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) confirmed that amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the country has secured refined fuel imports from alternative sources.
Of the total volume, 281,379 metric tons will arrive via 11 international shipments, while the remaining 55,000 metric tons will be supplied by domestic refineries and petroleum plants.
Supply Chain Disruptions and Strategic Shifts
The surge in imports comes as a major crude oil vessel, the MT Nordic Plang, remains stranded at Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura port due to the regional conflict.
The vessel, carrying 100,000 tons of crude oil for the state-owned Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL), was scheduled to depart for Chattogram on March 2 but remains docked despite being fully loaded.
To mitigate such disruptions, BPC has accelerated the arrival of refined diesel tankers:
- March 3: A vessel carrying 32,169 tons of diesel completed unloading at Chattogram Port.
- March 9: The tanker Shiu Chi arrived from Singapore with 27,204 tons.
- March 10: The Lian Huan Hu was expected to dock late Tuesday with 27,005 tons.
- March 12-13: Three more tankers—SPT Themis, Raffles Samurai, and Chang Hang Hong Tu—are slated to arrive, each carrying approximately 30,000 tons.
Additional shipments totaling 70,000 tons are scheduled to reach the port between March 24 and March 27.
Ensuring National Energy Security
Diesel accounts for approximately 70% of Bangladesh’s total fuel consumption, with a daily average demand of 12,000 tons.
"According to our plan, all scheduled vessels should arrive within the week, followed by phased unloading," said Nazrul Islam, Managing Director of Pride Shipping Lines.
Rear Admiral S.M. Moniruzzaman, Chairman of the Chattogram Port Authority, emphasized that fuel tankers are being given "special priority" for berthing to maintain an uninterrupted supply chain.
"Since the majority of our fuel shipments originate from Singapore and Malaysia, the impact of global geopolitical volatility on our immediate supply is relatively low," the Chairman noted, reaffirming the port's commitment to national energy security.
