Purchase body approves import of LNG, fertilisers

Advisors Council Committee on Government Purchase (ACCGP) on Wednesday approved a total of 7 proposals including that of the import of LNG and fertilisers.

Advisor for Finance Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, who presided over the meeting, said that the proposals were approved as part of the government‍‍`s measures to ensure available supply of fertiliser and gas.

"We hope there will be no shortage of fertiliser supply this season and the government is trying to mitigate the gas shortage through the LNG import,” he told reporters soon after the meeting.

As per the proposal moved by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, state-owned Petrobangla will import 2 cargos of LNG (liquefied natural gas) from Singapore-based Gunvor Singapore Pte, Ltd at international spot market.

The first cargo, having 33.66 lakh metric tons of MMBtu will cost at Tk 640.15 crore with each MMBtu at $13.57 while the second cargo, having the same quantity, will cost Tk 649,59 crore with each MMBtu at $13.77.

Petrobangla selected the supplier through the quotation process under the Public Procurement Rules, 2008.

The Ministry of Industries‍‍` two proposals, which it moved on behalf of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) to import fertiliser, received the approval.    

The BCIC will import 30,000 MT of bulk granular urea from SABIC Agri-nutrients Company of Saudi Arabia at a cost of Tk 124.67 crore with each MT at $346.33 while 30,000 MT of bagged granular urea will be procured from Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (Kafco) at a cost Tk 120.78 crore with each MT at $335.50.

The committee approved another proposal of the BCIC to cancel a tender for construction of 2 buffer godowns at Netrokona and Mymensingh.

The committee approved two proposals of the Agriculture Ministry to import fertiliser.

Of these, the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation will import 30,000 MT of TSP fertiliser from OCP S.A of Morocco at Tk 149.40 crore with each MT at $415.

Besides, the BADC will import 40,000 MT of DAP fertiliser from Ma‍‍`aden of Saudi Arabia at a cost of Tk 278.88  crore with each MT at $581.