PHOTO: MEHEDI HASAN

FROM PAGE 1

Arabia and the UAE have been deferred to mid-April due to shipping route disruptions, contract complications, and rising freight costs.

A deal with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company was also cancelled.

At least 1,00,000 tonnes of crude oil were supposed to be loaded into a tanker at Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia. This shipment for Bangladesh is now being loaded at Yanbu, with an additional cost of $0.25 per barrel.

Eastern Refinery Ltd (ERL), the country’s lone refinery, is operating at reduced capacity.

Stocks are expected to last about two weeks, with daily refining cut to 3,500–4,000 tonnes against a capacity of 5,000 tonnes. The reduction in refining is aimed at conserving the stock.

Md Shihabul Islam, manager (purchase) of ERL, said the facility is configured to process crude from Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, limiting alternative sourcing.

A vessel carrying 10,000 tonnes of diesel and 20,000 tonnes of jet fuel arrived yesterday under a contract with China’s Unipec, offering temporary relief.

Octane has emerged as the most vulnerable product, with stock estimated to last only a week. Local condensate -- a byproduct of gas -- has become the main source.

The 25,000 tonnes of octane imports planned for April also remain unconfirmed, according to BPC sources.

Although overall stock is considered “adequate” on paper, except for octane, the situation may worsen, particularly without smooth banking and logistics operations, if shipment delays continue and disruptions persist, said a BPC official, requesting anonymity.

In a bid to ease the pressure, the government yesterday approved urgent diesel imports.

Under the approved deals, AP Energy Investments Limited will supply 1 lakh tonnes and Superstar International (Group) Limited 2 lakh tonnes through direct international purchase, according to a finance ministry statement.