The LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB) has expressed concerns regarding two vessels anchored in Chattogram port last week, suspected of misreporting their country of origin while unloading around 70,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
LOAB President, Azam J Chowdhury, in a letter to the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) on 6 October, indicated that the product may have originated from Iran, a heavily sanctioned country.
LOAB has urged CPA and customs to conduct a thorough investigation, citing possible ship-to-ship transfers to disguise the origin.
Data from Kpler, a ship tracking system, suggests these transfers may have occurred on 8 and 16 September and from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran.
On 3 October, Gaz GMS anchored at the Bay of Bengal and three days later, MT Captain Nikolas. Gaz GMS arrived from the UAE's Sharjah and Captain Nikolas from Oman’s Sohar, according to data provided to the port authorities.
The body demanded the vessels be detained, and certificates of origin verified, while raising concerns over the risks posed to Bangladesh’s LPG market.
Disclosing the country of origin (COO) is mandatory for customs clearance, but some companies circumvent this requirement by engaging in ship-to-ship (STS) transfers. They then report the transfer location as the source of the products, according to LPG importers.
Data from Kpler, a global ship tracking system, shows that the vessel Gaz GMS conducted an STS transfer in Sharjah on 8 September, while Captain Nikolas loaded from Iran on 16 September.
In a letter, the LOAB stated it would not take responsibility for such “unlawful” activities, which violate international sanctions and undermine the integrity of Bangladesh’s LPG market.
LOAB has called on the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources to intervene and halt these ‘malpractices’.
An anonymous LPG importer revealed that unscrupulous suppliers have been reaping illicit profits, as products sourced from sanctioned countries are significantly cheaper than those Bangladesh normally imports.
LOAB President Azam J Chowdhury emphasised the organisation’s resolution prohibiting the purchase of LPG from sanctioned countries. “We have all signed this agreement, yet some continue to import such products by concealing information,” he said.
According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Gaz GMS is carrying 33,000 tonnes of LPG ingredients divided into nine packages, while MT Captain Nikolas is transporting 42,925 tonnes in 13 packages. The suppliers are Octane Energy Group FZCO and Atlantis Gas DMCC, respectively.
Of the nine packages on Gaz GMS, five are for Meghna Fresh LPG, three for JMI Industrial Gas, and one for BM Energy (BD).
The 13 packages on Captain Nikolas include six for Jamuna Spacetech Joint Venture, three for Unitex LP Gas, two for TMSS, and one each for BM Energy and Energypac Power Generation.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
