Ctg-Dhaka 250km pipeline opens tomorrow, ushering in new era of fuel transport

Bangladesh is all set to launch its first direct fuel pipeline from Chattogram to Dhaka tomorrow (16 August), a milestone in the country's energy logistics that is expected to reduce transport time from 48 hours to just 12 and save the state Tk226 crores annually.

The Tk3,653 crore project, implemented by the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) through the Bangladesh Army's 24 Engineering Construction Brigade, is scheduled to be inaugurated by Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, at the Padma Oil terminal in Guptakhal, Chattogram.

From river tankers to underground pipeline

For decades, fuel for Dhaka and much of the central region was transported by tanker ships from Chattogram's depots to Narayanganj and other points — a slow, costly process vulnerable to weather, accidents, and theft. BPC data shows the system relied on over 110 vessels a month, costing approximately Tk326 crore a year.

The new 250km underground pipeline will reduce those costs to about Tk90 crore annually, saving at least Tk226 crore. System losses and fuel theft are also expected to drop sharply.

Built to carry millions of tonnes a year

Approved by the Ecnec in October 2018 at an initial cost of Tk2,861 crore, the project was originally scheduled for completion in December 2020. Delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic pushed the deadline to March this year, and final expenses rose by about Tk800 crore.

The infrastructure includes a 241.28km, 16-inch diameter line from Chattogram to Godnail in Narayanganj, plus an 8.29km, 10-inch link to Fatullah. It crosses 22 rivers and canals, with nine pumping stations along the route. A total of 286.88 acres of land was acquired for the project.

To facilitate operations, a fully automated, modern depot has been set up in Mogbari of Cumilla's Barura upazila, and new storage tanks have been installed in Narayanganj for Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna Oil companies.

Successful trial runs

Project director Md Aminul Haque of the Petroleum Transmission Company said the system was tested in February, transporting 50 million litres of diesel without any loss. "The pipeline, depots, and reservoirs are all ready. We fixed all minor technical issues during the trial," he said.

With a carrying capacity of 350 tonnes per hour, the line can move 2.7–3 million tonnes annually, with the potential to expand to 5 million tonnes.

Real-time monitoring

A new control room set up in Patenga will monitor fuel flow and ensure security across the entire network.

BPC officials see the project as a strategic upgrade for the energy sector, easing supply to Dhaka and surrounding districts, and reducing the dependency on river transport.