ECNEC approves project for smooth unloading of crude oil

The approval was given at the 15th ECNEC meeting of the current 2015-16 fiscal year, held at the NEC conference room at city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Tuesday with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

SPM is a floating buoy/jetty anchored offshore to allow handling of liquid cargo such as petroleum products for tanker ships. SPM is mainly used in areas where a dedicated facility for loading or unloading liquid cargo is not available. Located at a distance of several kilometers from the shore-facility and connected using sub-sea oil pipelines, these Single Point Mooring (SPM) facilities can even handle vessels of massive capacity such as VLCC.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, planning minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said that a total of 10 projects with an outlay of Taka 7,276.36 crore were approved at the meeting. Of the total project cost, Taka 1,918.65 crore will come from the government exchequer, Taka 602.60 crore from the organsations' own funds while Taka 4,755.11 crore from project assistance.

Mustafa Kamal said that the idea for Single Point Mooring project was initiated with single pipeline in 2010, but later the idea of installing double pipeline was devised to make the project more effectively.

He said that the unloading time for crude oil from mother vessels to the lighterage vessels would come down significantly once the project is implemented.

Eastern Refinery Limited on behalf of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation under the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry will implement the Installation of Single Point Mooring (SPM) project by December 2018.

Out of the estimated project cost, Taka 920.87 crore would come from the government exchequer, Taka 111.90 crore from the organisation's own fund while Taka 3,903.20 crore as project assistance from the Chinese EXIM Bank.

Under the project, there will be a SPM and Pipe Line End Manifold (PLEM), 220 kilometers pipeline, tank farm and pump station at Moheshkhali, and a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system. The land acquisition and compensation, expertise services, establishment of fire fighting system and related works are also included in the project's work.

The planning minister said that crude oil would be unloaded through one pipe line while finished products would be unloaded through another pipeline.

He also informed that initiative would be taken in future to fulfill the requirements of supplying oil for the whole country through erecting pipeline on surface level.

The ECNEC meeting approved another project titled 'the Western Zone Grid Network Development Project with Taka 1423.90 crore.

Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited under the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry will implement the proposed project by June 2019.

Of the estimated project cost, the government would provide Taka 324.75 crore and KfW of Germany would provide Taka 625.20 crore as project assistance while the rest of Taka 473.94 crore from PGCB.

The main activities of the project include establishment of some 80 kilometers Ishwardi-Rajshahi 230 KV transmission line, 53 kilometers Gollamari-Gopalganj 132 KV transmission line, 25 kilometer Baghabari-Bhangura single circuit 132 KV transmission line, 31 kilometers Mongla-Bagerhat single circuit 132 KV transmission line, some 80 kilometers Bheramara-Rajbari 132 KV transmission line redirecting.

The meeting also gave nod to another project titled 'procurement of container scanner for Chittagong, Mongla, ICD Kamalapur and Benapole custom house' with Taka 117.46 crore.

The planning minister said that implementation of the project would help increase the customs duty alongside ensuring hassle-free service delivery.

Asked whether the day's approved projects are conflicting with the Election Commission's rules and regulations ahead of the countrywide Pourashava polls, he said that there was no project specifically for any Pourashava, rather those are all for national projects.

The other projects approved in the meeting are: Bakerganj-Padrishibpur-Kantaltoli-Subidkhali-Barguna road widening and strengthening project with Taka 144.19 crore, development and widening of various roads, construction of bridge and culverts under Barisal City Corporation with Taka 83.81 crore, academic and infrastructural development of Jessore Science and Technology University project with Taka 281.89 crore, Skills Development Project (2nd revised) with Taka 162.69 crore, development of livelihood of the hilly areas of Lalmai-Moinamoti in Comilla through integrated agricultural activities with Taka 53 crore, improving lifestyle of small ethnic groups through cooperatives with Taka 36.64 crore and cultivation of mixed fruits at remote areas of Chittagong Hill Tracts with Taka 36.81 crore.