CHATTOGRAM, June 20: The final pre-commissioning of the first-ever underground 250km long oil pipeline from Chattogram to Dhaka will begin on Sunday, according to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) sources.
"After successful completion of the pre-commissioning, the transportation of petroleum products through the pipeline from Chattogram to Dhaka will begin," said Raihan Ahmed, Managing Director of the Petroleum Transportation Company Limited, (PTC PLC).
Pre-commissioning is expected to be completed by six days, sources said.
Earlier, the commissioning of the 250km fuel oil transportation pipeline from Chattogram to Dhaka installed at a cost of Tk3,698 crore began on February 10 last that had ended in March last, BPC sources said.
The pipeline is able to transport 5.4 million tonnes of diesel per year for 25 years without any major disorder. The capital requires only 2.7 million tonnes of fuel oil per year.
The 250 km long pipeline from Chattogram to Dhaka to transport over 27 lakh metric tonnes of diesel (High Speed Diesel-HSD). The HSD is one of the most important fuel for agricultural works in the northern districts of the country.
The BPC had taken the project of the installation of 250-kilometre pipeline, for supplying diesel from Chattogram to Dhaka in an attempt to check pilferage and ensure its quick supply.
Presently, from Godnail and Fatullah in Narayanganj, oil tankers usually transport oil through waterways to the depots in the country's northern areas including Baghabari (Pabna), Chilmari (Kurigram) and north-western Chachna Bazar (Sunamganj).
The 237.71-km 16-inch diameter pipeline had been installed from BPC's Chattogram tank terminal at Padma Oil installations at Patenga to Godnail tank terminal in Narayanganj.
Besides, the BPC installed another 8.29-km 10-inch diameter pipeline from Godnail to Fatullah in Narayanganj to carry oil.
Another 59.23-km 8-inch diameter pipeline from Cumilla to Chandpur has also been set up to supply oil to Chandpur areas later on. The oil transportation pipeline will be secured as it will be three-LPE (Layer Extruded Polyethylene Coating) coated pipeline.
The pipeline would help cut time in oil delivery to end-users, traffic congestion and accidents during transportation and other unforeseen bottlenecks like natural disasters and strike.
Some 200 oil tankers are used to transport nearly 90 per cent of oil through waterways.
Currently, Bangladesh depends on coastal tankers, railway wagons and tank-lorries to carry refined oils to end-users after import from global suppliers into Chattogram depots as it has no major oil-carrying pipeline.
Small barges, mostly owned by the private sector, also carry petroleum products on various river routes.
Moreover, due to navigability issues in inland waterways, transporting fuel become particularly difficult during the dry season. This disrupts the supply of fuel but if the project is implemented, the BPC could avoid these losses.
This will revolutionize the transportation of fuel, sources said, adding that with this, the long wait for safe fuel transportation will come to an end.
The BPC estimates that the pipeline, capable of transporting 30 lakh tonnes of fuel oil annually, will save Tk230 crore in transportation costs annually. In addition, it will enhance energy security, reduce transit time, prevent theft, and lower environmental pollution.
It said Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) will transport fuel oil through the pipeline with its own management.
It added the cost of transporting oil will be reduced by this project. Besides, the supply system will be smoother while it will be possible to prevent environmental pollution as well.
The northern region, known as the nation's granary, previously faced logistical challenges in fuel transportation, relying on lighterage ships to Baghabari and subsequent transport via tank lorries or railways.
As Bangladesh does not produce fuel, the majority is imported, with lighterage vessels being relied upon due to navigational challenges at major river ports.
The pipeline is expected to reduce this dependence, streamlining the country's energy supply chain.
