Written by The Banking Post
Bangladesh has enough refined fuel reserves to avoid any supply crisis for at least the next two months, according to the Energy Division under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
Joint Secretary Monir Hossain Chowdhury said the country currently holds 101,385 tonnes of diesel, 31,821 tonnes of octane, 18,211 tonnes of petrol and 77,546 tonnes of jet fuel.
He said additional shipments are on the way, while the government has also strengthened imports of refined petroleum products to ensure stable supply amid global disruptions.
Briefing reporters in Dhaka, he noted that the state-run Eastern Refinery Limited is operating below capacity due to a shortage of crude oil, triggered by the ongoing Middle East tensions and shipping constraints in the Strait of Hormuz.
Scheduled crude shipments of 200,000 tonnes in March and 100,000 tonnes in April were disrupted, including a Saudi cargo stranded at Ras Tanura and another shipment from the United Arab Emirates that was suspended.
To ease pressure, the government has arranged alternative supply routes. A 100,000-tonne shipment of Arabian Light crude is now expected to arrive at Chattogram port between May 2 and 3.
Authorities have also requested additional crude supplies from Saudi Arabia and approved direct purchases of another 100,000 tonnes to keep refinery operations stable.
Eastern Refinery typically processes about 1.5 million tonnes of crude annually, meeting roughly 20 per cent of national demand. Last fiscal year, it supplied around 15 per cent of diesel and 12 per cent of petrol consumed in the country. It also produces furnace oil, kerosene and bitumen as by-products.
The official said fuel prices are adjusted monthly based on global market conditions, and future revisions will depend on prevailing trends.
Addressing concerns over long queues at petrol stations, he said the situation is largely driven by panic buying and is mostly confined to the capital. Industrial diesel supply, however, remains uninterrupted.
He added that private importers have been allowed to bring in 1.4 million tonnes of fuel to further stabilise the market.
“The current reserve position is strong, and there is no reason for public concern,” he said, urging consumers not to panic.
