Amid a severe energy crisis triggered by conflicts in the Middle East, the government on Thursday approved a few energy exploration projects aimed at strengthening domestic oil and gas reserves.
The approvals were given at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase, chaired by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the capital.
Under one of the approvals, China-based CNPC Chuanqing Drilling Engineering Company Ltd has been awarded the contract to drill two gas wells, Srikail Deep-1 and Mobarakpur Deep-1, at a total cost of Tk 7.136 billion.
The project will be implemented by Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX).
In another decision, the committee gave the go-ahead for drilling the Sylhet-12 oil well. The contract has been awarded to Sinopec International Petroleum Service Corporation at a cost of Tk 2.32 billion.
The meeting also approved two proposals for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of three new gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) substations, along with the upgradation of an existing substation in the Northern Electricity Supply Company Limited (NESCO) area.
To ensure fuel supply, the committee approved the import of 0.1 million tonnes of diesel from Mazda Oil Co. Ltd at a total cost of Tk 17.57 billion under the direct purchase method.
The meeting also approved the procurement of 9,000 tonnes of lentils under the local open tender method, at a cost of Tk 725.3 million.
Under this arrangement, Shabnam Vegetable Oil Industries Ltd of Kawran Bazar, Dhaka will supply 3,000 tonnes, while M/S Salman Khurshid of Baneswar Bazar, Puthia, Rajshahi will supply 6,000 tonnes in two separate lots.
The committee also approved the import of 35,000 tonnes of Muriate of Potash (MoP) fertiliser at a total cost of Tk 1.56 billion.
Russia's state-owned JSC "Foreign Economic Corporation (Prodintorg)" will supply the fertiliser under a state-level agreement at a price of $368.13 per tonne.
syful-islam@outlook.com
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