A tender proposal of Tk 145 crore on setting up of 14 petroleum storage tanks in Mongla Port area is likely to be considered by the Cabinet Purchase Committee in its any meeting. Once the tanks are built, the storage capacity of the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) will increase by 100,000 metric tonnes against its present storage capacity of 1.2 million tonnes. BPC chairman Yunusur Rahman said the storage tanks will also provide it an alternative fuel storage arrangement alongside its existing storage in Patenga in Chittagong port areas. “This project will reduce the country’s dependence on the sole fuel storage in Chittagong,” he told UNB adding that this project will also help facilitate the smooth supply of petroleum fuel to the country’s southwestern and northern regions. “We can easily reach petroleum fuel to Khulna and Rajshahi regions from the proposed storage at Mongla Port,” he added. He said BPC has selected a firm for the project and its proposal was forwarded to the Energy Ministry three months ago for the Cabinet Purchase Committee’s approval. Yunus, however, would not give details of the tender proposals. Officials said the growing demand for petroleum fuel, particularly for the liquid fuel-based rental and quick power plants, has heavily pushed up the requirement for more fuel storage spaces. In the last few years, the annual consumption of petroleum fuel has increased to 5.5 million in 2014 from 3.2 million in 2009 following the installation of 2,200 MW rental and quick rental power plants where BPC is responsible for their fuel supply. According to Energy Ministry officials, the BPC has selected the proposal of a local joint-venture firm among three qualified bidders for awarding the contract to build up the fuel reservoirs. Of the firms, Maxwell Engineering Limited-Pipeliners Limited became the first lowest bidder offering a cost of Tk 155.98 crore for the construction of the 14 fuel tankers while MBEL-CPCL (JV) emerged as the second lowest bidder with its offer of Tk 159.31 crore as cost. Local firm Dipon Gas Company was the third lowest bidder offering a cost at Tk 192.50 crore. Officials said all the tender offers were above the approved project cost of Tk 144.89 crore as per revised development project profile (RDPP). This put the officials in a dilemma to select a form for the bidders. But, the officials claimed that the Maxwell was finally agreed to slash its offer to Tk 145 crore from its original offer of Tk 155.98 crore through negotiations. However, Maxwell’s offer was found to have some lapses in its information to comply with the tender conditions in regard to the technical offers, claimed an official. Officials said the 14 fuel storage tanks will be installed on a vast track of land at Mongla Port where BPC was allocated 25 acres of land for different projects. They said all the 14 tanks will have an auto-gauging system which will provide some extra facilities in managing the fuel reservoirs.
Source: UNBConnect