One more ship loaded with fuel arrives at Ctg port

CHATTOGRAM, Mar 31: Another vessel carrying 30,000 tonnes of diesel from Malaysia berthed at Chittagong Port on Tuesday morning.
This marks the eighth ship to arrive at the port with diesel from March 1 to 31.
According to the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), the Panama-flagged vessel "PVT Solana" reached the outer anchorage of Chittagong port at around 3:00 am. The imported diesel will be discharged through lightering, if necessary, or directly via berthing at the dolphin jetty.
Another vessel carrying a similar quantity of diesel is due to arrive on April 3, while one more ship carrying around 70,000 tonnes of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is scheduled to arrive on April 4.
A total of 33 vessels carrying various types of fuel arrived in March. Of these, 15 ships brought different types of fuel oil, eight carried LNG and nine transported Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Secretary of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Refayat Hamim said, "All most all of them (33 ships) have already unloaded fuel and returned. Six more ships will arrive at the port by April 4. Three of these ships are carrying LNG, two are carrying gas oil, and one is carrying LPG."
Despite the arrival of oil tankers one after another at the port, the pressure of vehicles in front of petrol pumps is not decreasing. Some petrol pumps are providing fuel only for a few hours a day. The biggest problem lies with octane.
During a visit to the city, it was seen that there are long lines of vehicles in front of petrol pumps or shops where fuel is being supplied. In particular, the line of motorcycles is the most noticeable.
Member Secretary of the Petrol Pump Owners Association Chattogram Division Mohammad Mainuddin said, "There is no diesel crisis in Chattogram. However, there is a crisis of octane. Currently, petrol pumps are not supplying octane as per demand. After the oil crisis started, the demand for octane and other fuel oils has suddenly increased. However, the supply is the same as before."
The Chattogram District Administration is conducting regular mobile courts and drives to maintain discipline in the energy sector.
So far, 98 drives were conducted in Chattogram, while 18 to 20 cases were filed and around Tk 0.45 million in fines was imposed.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Chattogram Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah said, "There is no shortage of fuel in the country. We have sufficient stocks of octane, petrol and diesel. So there is no need to panic and buy extra fuel. Action will be taken against anyone who stocks up in excess."

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