Govt to procure Tk292cr edible oil, lentil from S Alam, Nabil firms
Briefing reporters after the meeting, he said following a proposal from the Ministry of Commerce, the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) would procure some 10,000 MTs of lentil from Nabil Naba Foods Limited under local Open Tender Method (OTM) with around Tk95.97 crore where per kilogram (Kg) lentil would cost Tk95.97
The government is purchasing nearly 1.50 crore litres of refined edible oil from S Alam Group's company for Tk196.34 crore through a direct procurement method and 10,000 tonnes of lentils from Nabil Group's company for Tk95.97 crore through the Open Tendering Method.
The procurement proposals, presented by the commerce ministry, were approved in a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Government Procurement, chaired by Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed today (11 December).
According to the proposals, seen by TBS, 38.10 lakh litres of loose soybean oil will be purchased from S Alam Super Edible Oil Limited at Tk140 per litre, totalling Tk53.34 crore. Additionally, over 1.10 crore litres of refined loose palm oil will be bought at Tk130 per litre, amounting to Tk143 crore.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Moreover, 10,000 tonnes of lentils will be purchased from Nabil Naba Foods Limited at Tk95.97 per kg, totalling Tk95.97 crore.
According to commerce ministry sources, these oils and lentils are being purchased for the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) to ensure a steady supply during the upcoming Ramadan. TCB provides essential items like edible oil, lentils, sugar, and rice to low-income people at subsidised prices once a month through family cards.
While products are being purchased from S Alam and Nabil Group, several allegations involving these groups have emerged since the interim government took office in August, including questionable loans, defaults, and money laundering during the previous government's tenure.
One spot LNG purchase
The committee has approved a proposal to purchase one cargo of liquified natural gas (LNG) from the spot market. Vitol Asia Pte Ltd of Singapore will supply LNG at $15.02 per MMBTU, at a total cost of Tk708.56 crore. LNG is expected to arrive in the country in the first week of January.
13 lakh tonnes of crude oil
The committee has approved the import of six lakh tonnes of Marban grade crude oil from the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company for 2025, at a cost of Tk5208 crore.
Additionally, seven lakh tonnes of Arabian Light Crude (ALC) will be purchased from Saudi Arabian Oil Company for Tk6025 crore.
The committee also approved the purchase of refined fuel oil worth Tk10,710 crore, with supplies from Unipec Singapore, Vitol Asia, and OQ Trading Limited of the UAE.
1.30 lakh tonnes of fertiliser
The committee has approved the import of 1.30 lakh tonnes of fertiliser from Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Morocco, totalling Tk660.77 crore. This includes 30,000 tonnes of bulk granular urea, 30,000 tonnes of MOP fertiliser, 40,000 tonnes of DAP fertiliser, and 30,000 tonnes of TSP fertiliser.
Around 30,000 tonnes of urea will be imported from Saudi Arabia's SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company for Tk23.24 crore, with the price set at $342.33 per tonne.
Around 30,000 tonnes of MOP will be imported from Russia's JSC Foreign Economic Corporation, at a cost of Tk104.39 crore, priced at $289.75 per tonne.
Around 40,000 tonnes of DAP will be imported from Morocco's OCP Nutricrops, costing Tk280.68 crore, with the price set at $584.75 per tonne.
Around 30,000 tonnes of TSP will also be imported from OCP Nutricrops at a cost of Tk152.46 crore, priced at $423.50 per tonne.
The committee also approved additional purchase proposals from various government divisions, including the Local Government Division and the Ministry of Disaster Management.
