The country requires around 1.7 million Metric Tonnes (MT) of diesel during the December-April period to meet the additional demand for irrigation during the peak season for boro plantation, according to a ministry official.
“The government is committed to ensure smooth supply of diesel to meet farmer’s demand during the irrigation season,” State Minister for Power, energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told on Sunday.
He also said currently power generation capacity reached to 14,077 megawatt and 74 per cent people are now under electricity coverage.
According to a ministry official, this year around 1 million MT diesel would be required to meet the demand of the coming irrigation season, of which 380,000 MT is estimated for 16 districts in the northern region during the period. He said the government imported 17,24,281 MT diesel last year, but recently the requirement of diesel fuel is declining due to increase of power generation and proper distribution across the country.
In this regard, an inter-ministerial coordination meeting would be held at the energy and mineral resources ministry conference room on Tuesday to finalise the requirement of the diesel fuel during the irrigation season.
According to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) source, the state owned corporation would import an additional quantity of diesel to meet the growing demand of irrigating in the boro fields, set to begin in December.
The source said the BPC always takes initiatives to stock up diesel for the irrigation season and Bangladesh imports about 2.5 million MT of diesel each year.
A total of 3,59,900 MT diesel was sold last season, and the selling of diesel is gradually decreasing due to increase of electricity production and proper distribution.