Written by The Banking Post
Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL), the country’s only state-owned oil refinery, is set to resume full-scale operations today as fresh crude oil shipments arrive, easing concerns over supply shortages.
A tanker carrying 100,000 tonnes of crude oil from Saudi Arabia reached the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port on Wednesday, marking a key step in restoring normal refinery operations after weeks of disruption.
ERL Managing Director Md Sharif Hasnat said lightering operations are already underway and crude has started flowing into the refinery’s storage tanks.
“Crude oil has started reaching ERL storage tanks, and we are resuming refining operations from Thursday. There is no shortage of crude oil now,” he said.
The refinery had been operating below capacity following a shortage of raw materials caused by disruptions in crude imports, largely linked to instability in the Middle East and earlier shipping delays through the Strait of Hormuz.
To stabilise supplies, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation moved quickly to secure fresh imports. Officials said around 300,000 tonnes of crude oil are scheduled to arrive in Chattogram during May, with another 100,000 tonnes expected shortly, lifting total incoming supply to about 400,000 tonnes.
Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, which arranges vessels for crude imports, said the supply chain is now operating smoothly.
“There will be no shortage of crude oil for at least the next three months as shipments continue to arrive,” said BSC Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek.
He added that incoming and outgoing shipments are being coordinated to ensure uninterrupted supply.
With crude inflows normalising, ERL’s return to full operation is expected to ease pressure on the domestic fuel market and strengthen energy security in the coming months.
