Eastern Refinery exceeds annual oil refining target by 35,000 tonnes
This is the highest amount of oil refined in a fiscal year by ERL
The Eastern Refinery Limited, the country's only state-owned oil refinery, has refined 15.35 lakh tonnes of crude oil in FY25, exceeding its annual target by 35,000 tonnes.
This is the highest amount of oil refined in a fiscal year by Eastern Refinery, surpassing both its planned capacity and the previous year's total of 12.79 lakh tonnes, the company disclosed at a press conference today (1 July) at its head office in Patenga, Chattogram.
The refinery processed 14.43 lakh tonnes in FY23, 13.77 lakh tonnes in FY22, and 15.13 lakh tonnes in FY21.
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"This has been made possible through uninterrupted supply and collective effort. When professionals are allowed to work freely and independently, good results follow," said Eastern Refinery Board Chairman and Senior Secretary to the home ministry Nasimul Gani at the press briefing.
Commenting on the refinery's future expansion, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation Chairman Amin Ul Ahsan said the development project proposal for Eastern Refinery's second unit was submitted to the planning ministry on 30 June.
"Funding will come from both the BPC and the government. Once approved, international tenders will be floated quickly," he said.
He added that plans are underway to establish two more oil refineries – one in Maheshkhali, where land has already been acquired, and another at Payra Port.
The proposed Maheshkhali refinery would have a refining capacity of 10 lakh tonnes annually.
Established in 1968, Eastern Refinery refines crude oil imported by BPC and currently produces 14 types of petroleum products, including LPG, petrol, octane, kerosene, diesel, and furnace oil.
Once the second Eastern Refinery unit is operational, refining capacity is expected to increase by an additional 30 lakh tonnes.
Authorities say this could significantly reduce the need to import diesel and lower the country's annual foreign exchange expenditure.
Eastern Refinery Managing Director Md Sharif Hasnat said, "Achieving this year's output required consistent supply of crude oil and continuous operation and maintenance. Several factors aligned to help us utilise the full refining capacity."
