FROM PAGE 1

According to the Energy Division, national fuel stock currently stands at 1,01,385 tonnes of diesel, 31,821 tonnes of octane, 18,211 tonnes of petrol, 77,546 tonnes of furnace oil, and 18,223 tonnes of jet fuel.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) officials said diesel stocks can meet demand for around eight-nine days.

Yesterday, two vessels with 60,000 tonnes of diesel reached the Chattogram port’s outer anchorage, and two more vessels carrying the same amount would arrive by April 18, they said.

Octane stock is sufficient for about 27 days, while a 30,000-tonne shipment is expected to arrive by April 18, according to BPC data.

Petrol supply, largely dependent on domestic condensate production, can meet roughly 12-13 days’ demand.

Four private condensate fractionation plants continue to supply petrol regularly, officials said.

They said jet fuel stock is sufficient for about 12 days and furnace oil for at least 32 days.

Officials said demand patterns have shifted.

Monir said, “The number of vehicles has not increased since February 28. The supply we provided before that date is the same as what we are providing now.”

He added that district administrations, depot in-charges, and distribution companies are coordinating. “We have instructed them not to supply even a single litre less than before to any fuel station.”

For example, he said Trust Filling Station near Bijoy Sarani, which has the longest queues, typically requires 50,000-54,000 litres of octane, but over 80,000 litres are being supplied in a single day. “This shows that supply has increased, but the demand has surged abnormally due to panic.”

The queue at the filling station, at Bijoy Sarani intersection, snaked its way to Mohakhali Bus Terminal yesterday afternoon, this correspondent saw.

Spokesperson Monir linked part of the fuel-buying behaviour to psychological pressure stemming from the US-Israel war on Iran.

Meanwhile, authorities have intensified drives against hoarding. Between March 3 and April 14, government agencies recovered around 5,42,000 litres of fuel and filed 3,510 cases.

Hoarders were fined Tk 1.56 crore, while 45 individuals were jailed. Of the recovered fuel, diesel accounted for 3,66,000 litres, octane 39,776 litres, petrol 87,959 litres, and furnace oil 48,500 litres, officials said.

The country’s sole refinery, Eastern Refinery Ltd (ERL), is operating on a limited scale using “deadstock” as crude oil imports remain disrupted.

A shipment of crude oil is expected to depart from Yanbu port on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia on April 20 and may reach Chattogram by May 2.

The spokesperson said, “The ERL contributes only one-fifth of the supply, which is minor. Currently, two out of four units are in operation using deadstock. In the interim, we are carrying out regular maintenance on the remaining units.”

At present, around 30,000-35,000 tonnes of residual stock are being used to keep ERL running.

In fiscal year 2024-25, ERL supplied about 15.44 percent of diesel demand and 11.92 percent of petrol demand, while octane supply came entirely from imports, the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources said in a statement.

The ministry said crude imports were disrupted after the Strait of Hormuz “closed” on February 28, preventing scheduled imports of 3,00,000 tonnes for March and April. “To manage the situation, the government has approved imports of additional refined fuel, which is being ramped up to offset refinery shortfalls.”

Replying to a query from a reporter, Monir said priority is being given to ensuring farmers and industries receive adequate diesel. Besides, the government is installing tracking devices on tank lorries and introducing real-time monitoring of fuel movement.

A fuel pass system has already been piloted at seven stations, with around 1,10,000 users registered, he said.

He added that seven more stations are expected to be included next week. There are plans to gradually bring motorcycles in Dhaka under the system.

On fuel pricing, he said monthly adjustments continue and April prices have already been fixed. Any future revision would depend on decisions by the relevant authorities.

At a separate briefing at the Secretariat, Zahed Ur Rahman, PM’s adviser on information and broadcasting, said fuel prices may be reconsidered if the war escalates or prolongs. “Any decision on fuel price adjustment would depend on the evolving global situation.”