20 cargoes of LNG will arrive in four months

Due to the changed political context, the Government Procurement Committee did not meet for several days. As a result, the interim government has taken the initiative to import 20 cargoes of LNG in the next four months to overcome the problems that arose in the importation of liquefied natural gas (LNG). These LNG will be imported under the Public Procurement Rules, 2008 instead of the 'Prompt Enhancement of Supply of Electricity and Energy (Special Provisions) Act, 2010'. A proposal in this regard has been approved in principle by the Advisory Council Committee on Economic Affairs.

On Wednesday in the conference room of the Cabinet Department, the convener of the finance and trade adviser. The proposal was approved in the meeting chaired by Salehuddin Ahmed. Finance and Trade Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed confirmed the matter to reporters. It is Dr. The second meeting of the procurement committee of the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus.

As per the proposal presented in the meeting, in-principle approval is sought for import of LNG from spot market under 'Public Procurement Rules, 2008' through 23 companies that have signed Master Sale and Purchase Agreement (MSPA) with Petrobangla to meet the urgent gas requirement.

At the same time, the initiative to import 20 cargoes of LNG in four months was also mentioned. Out of this, 6 cargoes of LNG will be imported in the current month i.e. September. Besides, Petrobangla has planned to import 5 cargoes in October, 5 cargoes in November and 4 cargoes in the last month of the year, December. However, prior to the import of these LNG, approval must also be obtained from the government procurement advisory committee meeting for final approval.

After the meeting, Finance and Trade Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed told reporters that policy approval comes before any purchase. Purchase Committee (Purchase Committee) cannot give approval without policy approval.

He said, questions were raised about the 23 institutions that have signed the MSPA and have been given in-principle approval for importing LNG from the spot market under the Public Procurement Rules, 2008. Institutions are good. We are satisfied.

According to the relevant sources, under the agreement signed with Petrobangla on G-to-G basis, currently 2.5 MTPA of LNG from Qatar's Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (Qatar Gas) for a period of 15 years and Oman Trading International (OQT) for a period of 10 years. At present 1.0 MTPA of LNG is being imported. Also LNG is imported from the spot market based on gas demand.

On November 10, 2016, the government gave in-principle approval for processing LNG imports from the spot market under the 'Expedited Supply of Electricity and Energy (Special Provisions) Act, 2010'. Under this Act, expressions of interest (EOI) were invited for preparing a list of suppliers for purchasing LNG from the spot market on June 8, 2017 in the National Gazette, published on the websites of CPTU, Petrobangla and RPGCL.

Out of the 29 institutions shortlisted among the applications submitted by the deadline, 17 institutions signed the SSPA. Subsequently, 14 companies signed MSPAs with Petrobangla within the stipulated time with the vetting of the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department and the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

Subsequently, the number of MSPA signatories was increased to 23 following due process for greater competition. A total of 97 times (including re-tenders) for the import of 74 cargoes of LNG from the spot market from September 2020 till now, 12 out of 23 companies participated in the bids at various times.

Bangladesh /MP