Petrobangla has paid $32 million to QatarEnergy LNG on Tuesday to clear all outstanding import bills as per its commitment.
During his recent Qatar visit, Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan told the Qatar government that Petrobangla will pay the dues by this month, however, Petrobangla authorities made the payment from a $500 million creditline created by the government in Jeddah-based International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), Petrobangla's Director (Finance) AKM Mizanur Rahman confirmed.
Earlier on 22 April, Petrobangla paid $5 million outstanding LNG import bills through Agrani Bank PLC to Qatar's state-owned QatarEnergy LNG from the total due of $37 million.
After paying the $5 million, Petrobangla was supposed to pay the rest of the due bills of $32 million on 23 April but failed as it was weekend in Jeddah and the due was supposed to be paid from the ITFC.
"On 27 April, on behalf of Petrobangla, ITFC confirmed the QatarEnergy LNG through a SWIFT message that they will receive the due bills by 29 April," official said.
QatarEnergy LNG started exporting LNG to Bangladesh under a 15-year-long contract in 2018.
QatarEnergy LNG will export minimum 1.8 to 2.5 mtpa LNG at a cost of $10.114 per MMbtu with 40 cargoes each having a capacity of 32 lakh MMbtu.
However, Bangladesh is trying to import more LNG from Qatar to meet its nagging energy crisis, but Qatar is yet to give any green light in this regard.
