TDS Desk:

The government has decided to import 100,000 tonnes of diesel to meet the country’s urgent energy demand amid the unstable geopolitical situation triggered by the Iran and US-Israel war.

The import will cost Tk 1,757 crore 94 lakh 20 thousand.

The approval was given at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase held on Thursday with Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair at the National Parliament Building.

According to the Finance Ministry, the diesel will be imported from Majeda Oil Company Limited through the direct procurement method under international purchase.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Division placed the proposal for the purchase.

Earlier, at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs held on April 21, a decision was taken to reduce the international open tender timeline from 42 days to 10 days to make the fuel supply process faster and more efficient.

At the same meeting, in-principle approval was given to procure 100,000 tonnes of EN590 10 ppm sulphur diesel from Archer Energy LLC through the direct procurement method. Later, the purchase was approved at a cost of Tk 674 crore 60 lakh 20 thousand at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase.

In addition, in-principle approval was also given at that meeting to procure another 100,000 tonnes of EN590 10 ppm diesel from Majeda Oil Company Limited under international purchase through the direct procurement method. The proposal received final approval at Thursday’s meeting.