The government has said its newly approved draft policy on private-sector fuel trading is aimed at strengthening energy security and ensuring a safe and uninterrupted supply of petroleum products across the country.
The Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) issued the clarification amid growing concerns over the government’s plan to allow private companies to participate in the import, storage, transportation, distribution and marketing of refined fuel.
The proposed “Policy on Import, Storage, Transportation, Distribution, and Marketing of Refined Fuel at the Private Level 2026” is intended to establish a transparent and competitive fuel market while supplementing the existing state-run system with private-sector infrastructure and investment.
According to the EMRD, private-sector resources could be utilised during emergencies or supply disruptions in the national interest. However, the policy will be finalised only after receiving opinions and recommendations from stakeholders across the energy sector.
The division stressed that any final policy must protect public interest, ensure energy security, promote competition, and maintain transparency and accountability.
It also rejected concerns that the policy could create opportunities for preferential treatment, saying there would be no scope to grant special privileges to any individual, company or group.
The clarification came after reports and social-media discussions raised questions about the proposed policy. The EMRD described some of the information being circulated as speculative and false and urged all concerned to exercise responsibility when discussing the issue.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s natural gas supply has improved following the gradual recovery of LNG regasification capacity at a damaged floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU).
Petrobangla officials said LNG regasification increased to around 733 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) on Saturday from 515 mmcfd the previous day, after a new LNG cargo was delivered to the FSRU.
The higher LNG supply raised the country’s total gas availability to around 2,367 mmcfd, providing improved supplies to industries, power plants and household consumers.
Md Shoeb, director of operations and mines and PSC at Petrobangla, said the FSRU resumed partial operations early on August 6 after one of its two boilers was repaired. He expressed hope that the facility would return to full-scale operation within a week.
Gas pressure has also improved compared with the severe supply shortages experienced over the previous two weeks.
The FSRU had abruptly stopped operations on July 21, disrupting the delivery of two LNG cargoes supplied by Gunvor Singapore Pte Ltd and TotalEnergies Gas & Power Ltd. Its gradual return to service has since helped ease the country’s gas supply situation.
