The interim government has decided to build a long-awaited crude oil refinery through a fresh competitive bidding process, canceling the controversial deal with S Alam Group. The project, named ‘Installation of ERL Unit-2,’ will follow the Public Procurement Rules (PPR) of 2008.Â
The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) will estimate the cost, prepare the development project proposal (DPP), and submit it to the Planning Commission for approval. Previously, the project faced delays and issues due to a proposed public-private joint venture with S Alam Group and attempts to bypass the tender process.Â
The new refinery aims to triple the country’s refining capacity to 4.5 million tonnes annually, potentially saving $220 million per year. The BPC had previously engaged with Technip and Engineers India Limited (EIL) for preliminary work. Experts believe competitive bidding will enhance transparency and accountability in the project’s execution.