Initiative taken to import diesel from India: Nasrul

The government has taken initiative to import furnace oil (diesel) from India through pipeline, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told Parliament on Wednesday. Responding to a tabled starred question from Didarul Alam (Chittagong-4), he said the terms of reference for a detailed feasibility study have already been approved by both sides. 'It'll be possible to implement the project by June 2017,' he hoped. In reply to another starred question from Nurunnabi Chowdhury (Bhola-3), the junior minister said the government has taken a step to import 1.3 million metric tonnes of crude oil from Saudi Arabia in 2014 calendar year for meeting the domestic demand for furnace oil. To import the fuel, Bangladesh will have to spend more than Tk 90.76 billion, he added. Nasrul Namid said there are now 587 CNG filling stations throughout the country. Of them, only 26 stations are situated in the western region of the country, he said replying to a tabled scripted question from AKM Maidul Islam MP (Kurigram-3). Nasrul Hamid informed the House that about 11.92 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas have been extracted from various gas fields of the country in the current fiscal year till March while the current reserve of gas is 15.12 trillion cubic feet, according to UNB.