Govt okays major imports, projects across energy, food, infra sectors

The government has approved a series of major procurement and investment proposals aimed at strengthening energy security, ensuring food supply stability, improving efficiency in the power sector, and expanding public infrastructure.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase held on Thursday at the Secretariat, chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.

To meet rising energy demand, the government approved the import of three cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the international spot market.

The LNG will be procured from three Singapore-based companies — Vitol Asia Private Limited, BP Singapore Private Limited and Gunvor Singapore Private Limited.

The total cost of the cargoes is Tk2,186.35 crore. The shipments are scheduled to arrive between 8-9 June, 9-10 June and 14-15 June.

To support low-income households, the government also approved the import of two crore litres of refined soybean oil from Indonesia for the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).

The procurement cost is over Tk282 crore, with the price set at US$1.151 per litre.

The oil will be sold at subsidised rates to TCB family cardholders. For the current fiscal year, the government’s total edible oil import target stands at 23 crore litres.

The government also approved revised tariff structures for electricity purchases from two power plants operated by North West Power Generation Company.

The plants include the Sirajganj 225MW Combined Cycle (Unit-2) and the Bheramara 410MW Combined Cycle power station. The revised tariffs are expected to save the Bangladesh Power Development Board around Tk201 crore annually.

To modernise electricity distribution in Dhaka and Mymensingh divisions, the government approved the construction of 18 new power substations at a cost of Tk286 crore. The project will be implemented by the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board under an ongoing modernisation programme approved in 2022.

The government also approved the construction of a 12-storey modern office building with three basements in the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar administrative area in Dhaka.

The project, to be implemented by the Public Works Department, will cost over Tk108 crore and include full internal utilities such as sanitation, water supply and electrical systems.

Additionally, the Power Division withdrew a proposal seeking approval to pay Tk716 crore in outstanding bills to six private furnace oil-based rental power plants.

The proposal had initially been placed on the agenda but was later withdrawn following a request from the Power Division.