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.