The full-scale supply of fuel oil through the Dhaka-Chattogram oil pipeline will begin by the end of next month, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday.
The information was shared at a meeting of the special parliamentary committee formed to address the energy situation, according to a press release issued by the Parliament Secretariat after the meeting.
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood presided over the meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
During the meeting, the ministry made a presentation on ongoing projects to ensure energy supply, policies and guidelines for expanding renewable energy, and the overall situation of the sector.
The committee reviewed various aspects of the country’s ongoing energy situation and the committee members shared their opinions and recommendations in this regard.
Committee members stressed the need to maintain a three-month stockpile of fuel oil in the country, automate the energy sector, diversify energy sources and expand the use of renewable energy.
They also recommended enhancing the refining capacity of the Eastern Refinery Limited and ensuring that it can process crude oil imported from any country in the world.
According to meeting sources, discussions were also held on encouraging private-sector investment in refinery establishment to increase fuel storage capacity. Both treasury and opposition members agreed on the issue.
Opposition members proposed forming a permanent expert committee on energy to provide long-term policy guidance.
The meeting was also informed that work is underway to modernise the policy framework for the establishment, operation and management of filling stations.
The ministry further said the Gas Marketing Rules 2014 have been updated and the Gas Marketing Rules 2026 have been formulated.
Opposition lawmakers were asked to submit their recommendations in writing to help address the current energy situation.
The committee decided to place a report before Parliament containing necessary recommendations to tackle the emerging energy challenges.
Committee members State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, Whips ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan and Miah Nuruddin Ahmad Apu, BNP MP Moinul Islam Khan, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmakers Md Saiful Alam, Md Nurul Islam and Md Abdul Baten, National Citizen Party MP Md Abul Hasnat and Khilafat Majlis lawmaker Mohammed Abul Hasan attended the meeting.