CHATTOGRAM, Feb 10: The Dhaka-Chattogram fuel oil transportation pipeline is likely to become operational in April as the project is completed.
The 250km pipeline is likely to be commissioned next month, while Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) plans to commence transporting fuel oil in April under its own management, said sources.
Implemented at a cost of Tk 36 billion, it is Bangladesh's first-ever oil transport pipeline project, which aims to save time, reduce transportation costs, and reduce system losses and environmental pollution.
BPC officials said the pipeline would save Tk 1.5 billion in transportation costs per year, adding its pre-commissioning is underway.
The pipeline will transport over 2.7 million metric tonnes of diesel, including high speed diesel (HSD), annually and has been designed with a future capacity increase to 5 million metric tonnes.
HSD is one of the most important fuel types for agricultural work in the northern districts.
Under the project, 241.28 kilometres of pipelines have been installed from Guptakhal in Patenga to Godnail in Narayanganj via Feni, Cumilla, Chandpur, and Munshiganj.
The entire pipeline is protected by a three-layer extruded polyethylene coating.
The route traverses the beds of 22 rivers and canals, with nine fuel stations along the way. A new fuel depot has also been established in Cumilla's Barura upazila.
The pipeline was planned in 2015, with the government aiming to complete it by 2017. BPC initiated a feasibility study and hired Engineers India Limited as the consultant at the time.
Following the study, a policy decision was made to proceed with the project.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the project titled "Supply of Fuel Oil in the Pipeline from Chattogram to Dhaka" with an initial budget of Tk 28.61 billion in October 2018.
However, delays and cost revisions later pushed up the budget to Tk 31.71 billion.
The cost was then revised again, with the final figure standing at Tk 36 billion, while the power, energy and mineral resources ministry extended the implementation deadline to December 2024.
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