Bangladesh's first automated petroleum depot begins operations in Cumilla
The depot will receive petroleum products through a pipeline from the main installation in Chattogram and will supply fuel to four districts: Cumilla, Lakshmipur, Feni and Noakhali
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has inaugurated the country's first fully automated petroleum depot at Mogbari Chowmuhani in Barura upazila of Cumilla.
BPC Chairman Md Amin Ul Ahsan inaugurated the depot as the chief guest today (17 December).
Speaking at the event, Amin Ul Ahsan said, "Previously, fuel loading at depots involved manual processes, which often led to discrepancies. At this depot, the entire process is automated. Vehicles will enter the facility, drivers will use a card-based system, and fuel will be loaded without any manual intervention."
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He added that the depot's strategic location midway between Dhaka and Chattogram would help reduce travel time and costs.
"Around 100 to 150 fuel tankers will arrive here daily, increasing economic activity and employment opportunities in the area. This depot will play a significant role in regional development," he noted.
Local fuel dealers said traders in Cumilla, Noakhali, Lakshmipur and Feni would benefit significantly from the facility, particularly through reduced transportation costs, and expressed optimism about its impact.
The depot has been built at a cost of approximately Tk118 crore under the Dhaka-Chattogram Fuel Pipeline project. Its operations are entirely touch-free, with technology used at every stage, from fuel receipt to storage and distribution.
Project officials said three BPC subsidiaries - Padma Oil PLC, Meghna Petroleum Limited and Jamuna Oil Company Limited - will independently supply diesel, petrol and octane to their respective dealers and distributors from the depot. Overall supervision of the facility will be carried out by Padma Oil PLC.
The depot will receive petroleum products through a pipeline from the main installation in Chattogram and will supply fuel to four districts: Cumilla, Lakshmipur, Feni and Noakhali.
Located about 16 kilometres from Cumilla city along the Cumilla-Chandpur regional highway, the depot spans 16.164 acres. It has storage capacities of 19,300 tonnes of diesel and 1,500 tonnes each of petrol and octane, according to BPC officials.
