The government of Bangladesh has approved the import of three additional shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in an effort to ease a fuel shortage linked to the ongoing Iran-related energy disruption.
The shipments, procured through international quotations, are expected to cost Tk21.12 billion, slightly lower than the cost of similar LNG volumes purchased in previous recent deals.
The approval came from the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase during its 27th meeting held at the Secretariat on Wednesday, according to the finance ministry. However, officials did not clarify what was meant by the term “partial approval” used in the decision.
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury chaired the meeting.
Under the latest arrangement, Singapore-based Vitol Asia and Aramco Trading will each supply one LNG cargo, while the third shipment will be provided by the United Kingdom’s TotalEnergies Gas and Power.
This latest purchase follows a series of recent LNG import decisions. Earlier in June, the government approved one shipment from BP Singapore and two from TotalEnergies, costing Tk23.72 billion. In late May, three more shipments were cleared from South Korea’s POSCO International and TotalEnergies at a cost of Tk23.31 billion.
In addition, an earlier meeting in May approved three LNG cargoes from the spot market, supplied by Vitol Asia, BP Singapore, and Gunvor Singapore, with a total cost of Tk21.86 billion.
Alongside LNG imports, the committee also approved the import of 15,000 tonnes of rock sulphur, as well as 25,000 tonnes of bulk granular urea fertiliser and another separate fertiliser consignment.
Officials say the continued LNG imports are aimed at stabilising energy supply amid rising demand and global market volatility.
