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BPC again seeks time
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The project aims to facilitate the unloading of imported crude oil and finished products with improved safety at a low cost and within a short time.
As such, it aims to reduce system losses experienced in the existing lighterage operation of imported crude oil and finished products, according to project documents.
The SPM will be able to unload 120,000 tonnes of crude oil from tankers in 48 hours and 70,000 tonnes of diesel in 28 hours.
Under the project, three oil depots for crude oil and three storage tank farms for diesel will be set up at Moheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar to ensure energy security by enhancing the country’s capacity to store fuel.
The project will establish a SPM and Pipeline End Manifold, set up a total of 220 kilometres of offshore and onshore pipelines, tanks and farms at Moheshkhali as well as carry out land acquisition.
The BPC said they have to spend an additional Tk 537 crore for the project due to the fluctuation of the US dollar, and $3.5 crore for the claim settlement of contractors and consultants, according to a document.
However, they have to pay another Tk 59 crore to the government due stipulations of the recent circular on income tax and value-added tax on the payment of contractors and consultants.
Project Director Md Sharif Hasnat, also a deputy general manager at Eastern Refinery, could not be reached over phone for a comment by the time this report was filed.
“We have scrutinised the project and raised our queries at the PEC meeting,” said Abdul Baki, member (secretary) of the industries and energy division of the Planning Commission.
“The project is almost complete but due to fluctuating dollar prices, they have to pay almost all of the proposed amount. Apart from that, the BPC has some claims from contractors and consultants,” he added.
Baki also said they raised some specific observations in the PEC meeting and asked the BPC to submit relevant documents soon.
“The project is very crucial for the country. If the project is launched, it will save a huge amount of money for the government,” he added.
In a recent programme, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said the SPM project is near completion.
“We have built 110 kilometres of pipeline from Moheshkhali to Patenga, which will save us about Tk 1,000 crore a year,” he said.
“We will supply fuel from Patenga to Dhaka through another pipeline, which is also almost complete,” Hamid added. The pipeline was already commissioned in July, but later faced technical glitches and failed.
The state minister hoped they would be able to inaugurate it in October this year while BPC officials also hoped to open the project within the next two-three months.

Fakir Knitwear
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research and development facilities in various parts of the country, and plan to set up similar industrial units at the BSMSN.
Sheikh Yusuf Haroon, executive chairman of Beza, said Fakir Knitwear is well-known in its respective sector as a developing business with a good reputation in local and international markets.
“Therefore, linking up these investors with Beza will lead to increased investment in the economic zone as well as diversification of products,” he added.
Haroon also said that although there are many challenges in providing services to the investors of economic zones, Beza is successfully ensuring water, gas and electricity connections through coordination with related government agencies.
Also, Beza has been working with various development partners to ensure international standards of central effluent treatment plants at the BSMSN, he added.