Although most of the key preparations have been completed, it may still take a few more weeks for the newly constructed 250 km Dhaka–Chattogram underground fuel supply pipeline project to start its commercial operation.
“We had planned to begin commercial operation from 1 April, but this had to be postponed due to the incomplete testing of some equipment,” said Engineer Amir Masud, general manager (Planning and Development) of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), while speaking to UNB.
“Now it is most likely that the operation will begin in the final week of April,” he added.
BPC undertook the underground pipeline project in 2015 to save time and costs, and to ensure an uninterrupted fuel supply to Dhaka from Chattogram.
Officials said that once the project becomes fully operational, it will result in the cessation of the current manual fuel transportation system, particularly for diesel, from Chattogram to Dhaka.
“This means it will replace the present manual system of transportation via tank lorries with an automated pipeline system,” said a senior BPC official.
The new network is expected to save approximately Tk 200 crore annually in transportation costs. In addition, it will enhance energy security, reduce transit time, prevent theft, and lower environmental pollution, he noted.
The project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in October 2016 with an initial budget allocation of Tk 2,861.31 crore, and a completion deadline set for 30 June 2020.
Padma Oil Company, a subsidiary of BPC, was tasked with implementing the project—titled “Fuel Supply from Chattogram to Dhaka via Pipeline”—and appointed the 24th Engineering Construction Brigade of the Bangladesh Army as the contractor, following some complexities.
The budget was later revised to Tk 3,600 crore and the timeline extended multiple times. A trial test run was conducted, with April 1 initially set as the target date for full operation.
Since independence, Bangladesh has relied on waterways and railways to transport fuel from Chattogram, but this system now suffers from high costs, theft, losses, and delays.
To improve efficiency, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has installed a 241.28-kilometre underground pipeline from Guptakhali (Patenga) to Godhnail (Narayanganj), passing through Feni, Cumilla, Chandpur, and Munshiganj.
A connecting 8.29-kilometre line links Godhnail to Fatullah. Initially, it will supply 3 million tonnes of fuel annually, with a future capacity of 5 million tonnes.
The route crosses 22 rivers and includes nine stations and a new depot in Borura (Cumilla). BPC also plans a 59.23-kilometre pipeline from Cumilla to Chandpur. The pipeline is buried 5 feet underground and coated for protection. A SCADA system and fibre-optic cables will monitor the 250-kilometre network from a master control station at the Chattogram Dispatch Terminal, ensuring leak detection and operational oversight.
Courtesy: UNB
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
