Petrobangla has repaid the Awami League-era’s total Tk8,702 crore debt owed to different foreign gas suppliers and other organisations two months ahead of the deadline on 30 April, thanks to support from the Prof Yunus-led interim government.

In a statement on Wednesday, the state-run energy company said it has paid total Tk45,253 crore, including the Tk8,702 crore debt.

The debt was owed to international oil companies, long-term LNG purchase contract signatories, spot market LNG sellers, International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation as well as the dues of two LNG floating terminals.

The company attributed the success in repaying debts to regular bill payments by consumers and the practice of setting monthly deadlines for distribution and production companies to repay their dues.

Gas bills were collected at faster pace from power producers and fertilizer producers through inter-ministerial coordination.

Furthermore, the number of authorized banks were increased to facilitate the settlement of payments for long-term and on-spot LNG purchases. The Bangladesh Bank also took special steps to expedite the import bill payments.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Division as well as the Finance Division sanctioned Tk2,000 crore loan to Petrobangla through the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, further easing the debt repayment process for Petrobangla, it said.