Bangladesh has received a major boost to its fuel reserves with the arrival of more than 1 lakh tonnes of diesel at Chattogram Port in a single day, as authorities move to stabilise the country’s energy supply.
Officials confirmed that a total of 1,01,000 tonnes of diesel arrived on Monday from Oman, Malaysia and India. Based on current consumption levels, the imported fuel is expected to meet national demand for more than eight days.
According to port sources, the first shipment reached the outer anchorage around 2am when the Liberia-flagged vessel Golden Horizon delivered 35,000 tonnes of diesel from Oman. Later in the afternoon, the vessel FPMC 30 arrived carrying 33,000 tonnes from Malaysia, while another ship, Pacific Indigo, was scheduled to bring an additional 33,000 tonnes from India.
Energy officials said Bangladesh’s average daily diesel consumption is about 12,500 tonnes, making the latest imports sufficient to maintain supply for over a week.
Mohammad Nazrul Islam, managing partner of Pride Shipping Line, said preparations had been made in advance to ensure swift unloading.
“Lighter vessels are ready, and offloading begins within hours of anchoring,” he said, adding that uninterrupted supply remains a priority.
Fuel imports have continued in recent days, with four vessels carrying 1,36,000 tonnes arriving last Friday, while more shipments are expected soon. Two additional consignments - one carrying 33,000 tonnes of diesel and another 34,600 tonnes of jet fuel - are due within the next few days.
Authorities also confirmed that five more diesel shipments are scheduled, including the vessels Hafnia Cheetah and Jing Tong 799, expected later this week.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation has increased fuel distribution nationwide, raising octane supply by 20 per cent and petrol and diesel by 10 per cent to meet growing demand. Officials said the move aims to ensure stability in the domestic fuel market following recent price adjustments.
