DHAKA, Dec 25, 2020 (BSS) – A total of 19,39,370 tonnes of diesel and 51,034 tonnes of lubricant oil will be needed for the current irrigation season from November this year to May 2021.
“The government is committed to ensuring an uninterrupted supply of fuel for irrigation across the country, as our farmers keeping the wheels of the country’s economy moving during the global coronavirus epidemic,” State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told BSS.
He said fuel is required in agriculture sector round the year, but the demand for fuel during the irrigation season (December-May) usually increased.
“The demand for diesel is being increased tremendously specially the northern part of the country. We must be ensured timely supply of fuel to agriculture sector at any cost,” Nasrul said.
He said uninterrupted supply of electricity and diesel will be ensured planned wise during the irrigation season throughout the country.
“We have sufficient stock of fuel oil including diesel in the country,” the state minister said.
According to a ministry meeting information, 73.11 percent of diesel consumed out of the total fuel in the country, of which 18 percent was consumed in agriculture sector.
At Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC)/marketing company level about 84 percent of fuel oil is transported by waterways, 9 percent by railways and 7 percent by road, it said.
During the irrigation season, diesel-powered deep tube well, shallow tube well, LLP (low lift pump), power tailor and tractor are used, the information said.
It added that the BPC has directed concerned to ensure the huge amount of fuel oil supply in time. Besides, a monitoring team of BPC will work to prevent anybody from collecting excess oil for irrigation.
Recently an inter-ministerial meeting was held on the demand for fuel oil in the irrigation season. Virtually chaired by Nasrul Hamid, the meeting was also addressed, among others, by Prime Minister’s energy advisor Toufique-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Bir Bikram, energy division secretary Md Anisur Rahman, BPC chairman Abu Bakar Siddique, Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) chairman Engineer Balayet Hossain, Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) chairman Major General (retd) Moin Uddin and representatives from railways and shipping ministries.
The meeting directed BPC, BREB, BIWTA, Chattogram Port Authority and Railway related companies to ensure the fluent supply of diesel throughout the country in due time.
The state minister said uninterrupted and quality power supply is not far away, as the government has been implementing various projects to ensure this at affordable prices for the common people.
“Efforts are underway to ensure uninterrupted and quality electricity supply across the country at affordable price,” he said.