Staff Reporter:
The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) yesterday approved the import of 70,000 tonnes of phosphate-based fertilizer from Morocco and four cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential agricultural inputs and energy.
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presided over the 42nd meeting of the CCGP held at the Cabinet Division at Bangladesh Secretariat in the city.
The committee approved a total of 13 procurement proposals covering different sectors, with agri-culture and energy receiving particular attention.
Of the approved fertilizer procurement, 40,000 tonnes (10 percent) of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer will be imported from OCP Nutricrops, Morocco, under the existing Government-to-Government (G2G) arrangement.
The DAP will be procured at a price of US$894 per tonne, with the total estimated cost standing at Taka 440.92 crore.
The committee also approved the import of 30,000 tonnes (10 percent) of Triple Superphosphate (TSP) fertilizer from the same Moroccan supplier under the G2G arrangement.
The TSP will be procured at US$669.33 per tonne, at a total cost of Taka 247.78 crore.
The fertilizer procurement proposals were placed by the Ministry of Agriculture through the Bang-ladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC).
The CCGP also approved four LNG cargoes proposed by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division to meet the country’s energy demand.
Three LNG cargoes were approved through international competitive bidding. The 49th cargo, scheduled for delivery on September 25-26, will be procured from Aramco Trading Singapore Pte. Ltd. at US$27.54 per MMBtu.
The 50th cargo, scheduled for delivery on October 1-2, will be procured from BP Singapore Pte. Ltd. at US$28.03 per MMBtu while the 51st cargo, scheduled for delivery on October 5-6, will be pro-cured from Vitol Asia Pte. Ltd. at US$26.6688 per MMBtu.
In addition, the committee approved one LNG cargo from Aramco Trading Singapore Pte. Ltd. un-der Clause 7.2(b) of the existing Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA). The cargo, scheduled for de-livery on September 10, will be procured at US$23.98 per MMBtu.
The approvals are expected to help maintain adequate fertilizer supplies ahead of the upcoming agricultural season and ensure uninterrupted energy supply for power generation, industries and other consumers.
The meeting also considered procurement proposals from the Road Transport and Highways Divi-sion, Ministry of Commerce, Secondary and Higher Education Division, Power Division, Ministry of Shipping, and Ministry of Housing and Public Works, among others.
The CCGP’s approval of the fertilizer and LNG procurements comes amid the government’s efforts to ensure food and energy security while maintaining cost efficiency in public procurement.
