The Energy Division has said that the current operational limitations of the Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL) will not have any significant impact on Bangladesh’s overall fuel supply situation, as the country largely depends on imported refined petroleum products.
Speaking at a press briefing at the ministry’s conference room in Dhaka on Wednesday, Energy Division Joint Secretary Monir Hossain Chowdhury said ERL accounts for only about one-fifth of the country’s petroleum supply, while the majority is already imported in refined form.
He said the government has ensured continued import of refined fuel from multiple international sources despite global supply disruptions.
“There will be no adverse impact on fuel supply due to reduced operations at ERL,” he said, adding that supply stability remains intact.
The official explained that ERL is currently running two of its four processing units, using limited “dead stock” due to a shortage of crude oil. However, he expressed hope that full operations would resume once fresh crude shipments arrive.
Monir Hossain Chowdhury noted that the national fuel stock currently stands at more than 2,55,000 metric tonnes of refined petroleum, which is sufficient to maintain supply in the short term.
He also said imports from alternative sources, including increased supplies through cross-border pipeline arrangements with India, are being expanded to strengthen energy security.
According to him, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz since 28 February have delayed around 2 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil shipments from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. One vessel carrying 1 lakh tonnes of Arabian Light Crude is expected to depart around 20 April and arrive in Chattogram in early May via an alternative route.
The government has also requested additional crude shipments from Saudi Arabia and issued work orders for emergency direct purchases to ensure uninterrupted supply.
Monir Hossain Chowdhury further said that ERL processes about 1.5 million metric tonnes of crude annually, contributing roughly 20 per cent of national demand, but stressed that current constraints at the refinery will not create a fuel crisis due to sufficient imported refined fuel reserves.
