BPC finds 29.65 lakh litres of fuel shortfall in 56 imported consignments

The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) received around 29.65 lakh litres less fuel than the quantities stated in bills of lading (BLs) from 56 vessels that arrived at Chattogram Port in the 2025-26 fiscal year, resulting in an estimated financial loss of Tk45 crore at current market prices.

An analysis of BPC documents shows that the total shortfall was 2,449.485 tonnes. The vessels had carried 1,751,928.842 tonnes of fuel according to their BLs, but only 1,749,479.357 tonnes were discharged. The state-owned Meghna Petroleum Company Ltd (MPL) handled the unloading operations.

BPC officials said the corporation would collect information and conduct a detailed review before taking necessary action.

High-speed diesel (HSD) accounted for the largest share of the shortfall, with 2,026.458 tonnes, equivalent to around 24.03 lakh litres, missing. BPC's conversion rate puts one tonne of diesel at 1,186 litres.

The shortfall in petrol and octane stood at 281.789 tonnes, or around 385,487 litres, based on a conversion rate of 1,368 litres per tonne. Another 141.238 tonnes of Jet A-1 fuel, equivalent to approximately 175,700 litres, were also found missing, with one tonne equivalent to 1,244 litres.

Vessel-wise records reveal substantial shortfalls in several consignments. The largest was recorded on the MT Torm Agnes, which arrived at Chattogram Port on 27 February this year. Its BL stated that it was carrying 34,988.823 tonnes of HSD, but only 34,725.360 tonnes were discharged, leaving a shortfall of 263.463 tonnes.

The second-largest shortfall was recorded on the MT Torm Lewis, which arrived on 20 August last year. Against the BL quantity of 33,431 tonnes of diesel, 33,210 tonnes were discharged, resulting in a deficit of 221 tonnes.

The MT Lian Song Hu, which arrived on 17 April, had a shortfall of around 214 tonnes of diesel. Its BL stated that the vessel was carrying 41,907 tonnes, while the discharged quantity was slightly more than 41,693 tonnes.

Another 206 tonnes of motor oil were found missing from the PVT Solana, which arrived at Chattogram Port on 4 July last year. Although its BL listed 24,002 tonnes, only 23,796 tonnes were discharged.

The four vessels together accounted for a shortfall of around 904 tonnes.

Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, deputy general manager (operations) of Meghna Petroleum, who was responsible for the unloading operations, acknowledged that some vessels delivered less fuel than the quantities stated in their BLs.

He told journalists that the shortfalls were within BPC's prescribed tolerance limit of 0.3% and, therefore, did not indicate any irregularity in fuel unloading.

However, he declined to comment on the unusually large shortfalls recorded on the four vessels.

BPC officials said the substantial deficits in several individual consignments could remain obscured in the overall annual figures. The four vessels with the largest shortfalls had deficits of around 0.7% compared with their BL quantities, they said, adding that the financial implications could not be overlooked simply by citing the prescribed tolerance limit.

In international fuel trade, some differences between BL quantities and actual discharged volumes are not unusual. Such discrepancies may arise from variations in measurements inside vessel tanks, changes in temperature and density, differences in measurement methods, and variations between shipboard and shore-based equipment.

However, the record shortfalls on several of the 56 vessels, alongside instances in which seven vessels delivered more fuel than their BL quantities, have raised questions about measurement and oversight during the unloading process.

BPC has long planned to introduce automation at its Main Point Installation (MI) facilities to improve fuel unloading operations, but the initiative has yet to be fully implemented.

Industry insiders said the absence of an automated system for measurement and record-keeping made it difficult to identify the exact causes of discrepancies at different stages of fuel unloading. Without accurate accounting from import and discharge to storage and distribution, the risk of financial losses would persist, they added.

AK Mohammad Shamsul Ahsan, BPC director (operations), told said that the corporation was now paying greater attention to shortfalls during fuel unloading. Although automation at MI facilities had been under consideration for a long time, BPC was currently giving the initiative particular priority, he said.

People involved in fuel marketing and distribution said the risk of losses existed at every stage, including unloading, storage, transportation and distribution. Allegations of theft and irregularities during the supply of fuel to depots and its subsequent distribution have persisted for years.

As a result, they said, not all imported fuel necessarily reaches the market. Shortfalls during unloading and subsequent delivery to depots also reduce BPC's actual profits.