Govt to procure 3 LNG cargoes, 2.45 lakh MT fertiliser

The government today approved separate proposals to procure three cargos of LNG, 2.45 lakh metric tonnes of fertiliser, and 15,000 metric tonnes of rock sulphur to meet the country's growing demand.

The approvals came during the 32nd meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase this year, held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room, Bangladesh Secretariat, with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, the Finance Adviser said there had been pressure on the government to raise energy prices, such as gas, every month or two, but the interim government refrained from doing so following various calculations by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division. "It's a good thing," he added.

"Our aim is to ensure a necessary supply of LNG so that no such pressure arises to raise energy prices, as such increases can affect both consumers and industries," he said. He also noted that the government is focusing on enhancing the supply of LNG while reducing pressure on the authorities. "But it's hard to predict what will happen in the future," he added, noting that the government was purchasing LNG at a comparatively reasonable price.

Following three separate proposals from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, Petrobangla will procure one cargo of LNG from M/S Total Energies Gas and Power Limited, United Kingdom, for around Tk480.68 crore (per MMBtu LNG costing $11.44); another cargo from the same company for around Tk476.47 crore (per MMBtu LNG costing $11.34); and a third cargo, also from the same company, for around Tk484.88 crore (per MMBtu LNG costing $11.54). All procurements will follow the international quotation method.

In addition, based on separate proposals from the Ministry of Industries and Agriculture, the government will procure 30,000 metric tonnes of bagged granular urea fertiliser from KAFCO, Bangladesh, for around Tk169.69 crore; 35,000 metric tonnes of MOP fertiliser from JSC "Foreign Economic Corporation (Prodintorg)" for around Tk154.90 crore; 40,000 metric tonnes of DAP fertiliser from OCP, NUTRICROPS, Morocco, for around Tk384.45 crore; 30,000 metric tonnes of TSP fertiliser from OCP, NUTRICROPS, Morocco, for around Tk215.39 crore; another 30,000 metric tonnes of TSP fertiliser from the same company for around Tk215.04 crore; 40,000 metric tonnes of MOP fertiliser from Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) for around Tk177.32 crore; and another 40,000 metric tonnes of MOP fertiliser from CCC for around Tk177.03 crore.

Apart from these, the government will procure 15,000 metric tonnes of rock sulphur/bright yellow sulphur crude from various sources for around Tk71.42 crore.