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SPM work nearing completion

Nazimuddin Shyamol | May 27, 2023 00:00:00


CHATTOGRAM, May 26: Construction of the Single Point Mooring (SPM) project in Cox's Bazar Moheshkhali area is reaching its final stages, with around 97 per cent of the project completed.

The remaining work is expected to be finished by the first week of June, according to officials.

They have confirmed that the test pre-commissioning of the SPM project will take place next month, following the completion of the remaining tasks. The commissioning of crude oil is slated for June 25.

Sources said that the SPM project, aimed at unloading imported petroleum products more efficiently in terms of cost and time, is progressing rapidly. The 220 km double pipeline on the seabed has already been installed.

Despite the work being affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, the authorities are determined to complete the project within this year. The buoy for the SPM has been successfully installed in the Bay of Bengal. It was manufactured in China under the supervision of Dutch experts.

Engineer Sharif Hasnat, the project director of SPM, said, "Nearly 97 per cent of the total work for the SPM project has already been completed and the remaining work is expected to be finished by the first week of June. We have constructed a total of 6 tanks and other necessary infrastructures."

He said Dutch firm 'Blue Water' manufactured the SPM and pipeline, supervised by a Chinese organisation called China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company Ltd (CPPECL). A total of 220 km of double pipelines have been installed for the SPM.

Regarding the project's execution, he mentioned, "The Chinese state-owned company CPPECL is serving as the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor, while Germany-based ILF Consulting Engineers is engaged as a consultant."

He expressed his optimism, saying, "We anticipate completing 100 per cent of the work by next month. I hope that  we can commence the pre-commissioning of the SPM project in June."

He noted that the SPM is expected to begin operations after the pre-commissioning of crude oil through the pipeline on June 25 this year.

Sources said that the SPM project is a top priority for the Energy Division, as it will significantly reduce the cost of fuel transportation.

The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) undertook the project to transport imported raw petroleum to the state-owned Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL) in Patenga, Chattogram, with the aim of reducing transportation costs for petroleum fuel and facilitating direct unloading from deep-sea vessels.

The SPM project was initiated in 2012, and after completing the necessary procedures, the government awarded the contract for the project to the Chinese company China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau (CPP). BPC signed a contract with CPP on December 7, 2016, to implement the 'SPM with Double Pipeline' project.

Under the project, there are installation of the SPM and a 220-kilometre double pipeline, storage tanks, and a pump station in Moheshkhali. Besides, a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system and a fire fighting station have been set up.

The SPM project is being implemented with financial support from China. The total cost of the project is Tk5,426 crore. Of it, the Chinese Exim Bank is providing financing of Tk 4,293 crore, the Bangladesh government is contributing Tk 1,021 crore, and the remaining Tk 111 crore is invested by BPC from its own funds.

The SPM will have an annual unloading capacity of 9 million tonnes. It will be capable of unloading 120,000 tonnes of crude oil in 48 hours and 70,000 tonnes of diesel in 28 hours.

The SPM project includes the construction of three crude oil tanks (each with a net capacity of 50,000 m³), three HSD tanks (each with a net capacity of 30,000 m³), main pumps, booster pumps, and other pumps, as well as the installation of a generator for power supply, housing facilities, administration and other buildings, a pigging system, a custody metering system, a security system, and a firefighting system.

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