Govt to procure 2 cargos LNG, 1.30 lakh MTs fertilizer

The government today approved separate proposals for procuring some two cargos of LNG and 1.30 lakh metric tons of fertilizer to meet the growing demand of the country.

The approval came at the 6th meeting of the Adviser’s Council Committee on Government Procurement in this year at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat.

Finance and Commerce Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed presided over the meeting.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, the finance adviser said it is the prime goal of the government to ensure energy security. “For this we’re importing LNG,” he said.

In this regard, he said the day’s meeting approved a good number of procurement proposals for importing LNG and fertilizer.

“The imported LNG will facilitate industrial operations as well as trade and commerce,” he added.

As a result, Dr Salehuddin said there would be no crisis for conducting agricultural activities side by side the procurement move aims at addressing the demand of energy and boosting the stockpile of fertilizer.

Answering to a question, the finance adviser said that the government is trying to minimize the crisis of energy and thus facilitating trade and commerce.

At the outset of the meeting, he said the government has taken all necessary measures for keeping the stockpile and supply of fertilizer at a satisfactory level so that the agricultural production is not hampered by any means.

Besides, he also directed the concerned ministry to ensure keeping supply of necessary essential items like lentil, onion, potatoes, sugar, and soybean oil in the market.

Cabinet Division officials said the day’s meeting approved a total of seven proposals.

Following two separate proposals from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, the government would procure one cargo LNG from the spot market from M/S Gunvor Singapore Pte Ltd Singapore with around Taka 640.16 crore as per MMBtu LNG costs $13.57.

In another proposal, the government would procure one cargo LNG from M/S Gunvor Singapore Pte Ltd Singapore with around Taka 649.59 crore where per MMBtu LNG would cost $13.77.

Both the two cargos of LNG would be procured from the spot market among the Master Sale and Purchase Agreement (MSPA) signing companies and firms.

Besides, following two separate proposals from the Ministry of Industries, the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) would procure 30,000 metric tons of bulk granular urea fertilizer from SABIC Agri Nutrients Company, Saudi Arabia under the 2nd lot with around Taka 124.68 crore as per ton fertilizer costs $346.33.

The BCIC would procure another consignment of 30,000 metric tons of bagged granular urea fertilizer from KAFCO, Bangladesh under the 4th lot with around Taka 120.78 crore where per ton fertilizer would cost $335.50.

Apart from these, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) following two separate proposals from the Ministry of Agriculture would procure 30,000 metric tons of TSP fertilizer from OCP, SA, Morocco under the 6th lot in line with state-level agreement with around Taka 149.40 crore as per ton fertilizer costs $415.

The BADC would purchase another consignment of 40,000 metric tons of DAP fertilizer from MA’ADEN, Saudi Arabia with around Taka 278.88 crore while with per ton fertilizer costs $581. (BSS)