Petroleum Corp seeks global suppliers to secure fuel supply
Jet A-1 jet fuel, 180 CST high-sulphur fuel oil, 50 ppm sulphur gasoline, RON 95 gasoline, 0.5% sulphur marine fuel and LPG are among the items.
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has invited international suppliers to enlist for refined petroleum product supply, according to a report from S&P Global, aiming to secure future deliveries amid global supply disruptions.
According to the report, BPC issued a notice on Monday (13 April) inviting suppliers to participate in an international request for quotation process to qualify for future deliveries of refined products.
Jet A-1 jet fuel, 180 CST high-sulphur fuel oil, 50 ppm sulphur gasoline, RON 95 gasoline, 0.5% sulphur marine fuel and LPG are among the items.
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The single-point mooring system in Maheshkhali, installations in Chattogram, and other sites will receive deliveries on a CIF basis.
BPC said shortlisted suppliers must sign a master sale and purchase agreement, under which they may join tenders for spot or term supplies.
Suppliers can apply individually or as part of a joint venture or consortium, subject to eligibility criteria.
Applications must be submitted by 4pm local time (1000 GMT) on 4 May with a non-refundable fee of $1,000 or its equivalent in taka.
Selected applicants must pay an additional enlistment fee before signing the master sale and purchase agreement.
"We floated the tender to have a pool of refined oil suppliers who will be interested in supplying oil whenever necessary for both short and long terms," BPC Chairman Md Rezanur Rahman told Platts today (15 April).
He said the tender had been floated amid the US-Israeli war on Iran in the Middle East war and restrictions on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which have disrupted supplies to Bangladesh.
Several suppliers had declared force majeure, while others have deferred shipment schedules, Rezanur said.
According to him, BPC imports about half of its refined petroleum products through tenders and the rest through government-to-government deals
He noted that it had not previously enlisted suppliers this way.
"With this tender, we want to shortlist the competitive petroleum product suppliers from around the world, like those of LNG imports," Rezanur said.
He added that Bangladesh had prepared a list of 24 suppliers for LNG spot sourcing, alongside long- and short-term suppliers.
According to S&P Global, Bangladesh relies heavily on imports for refined petroleum products, with BPC as the sole importer and distributor.
Earlier, Platts reported that Bangladesh's new BNP government is seeking support from the United States, China and India to boost gasoil supplies amid the Middle East conflict and Strait of Hormuz constraints.
