Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) established by a Presidential Ordinance in 1976 (# 88, 13/11/1976) for the importation of crude and refined oil, and lubricant, refining of crude oil, and distribution and marketing of fuel oils, lubricants and other petroleum products in the country. As per the Bangladesh Petroleum Act, 1974, production, processing, refining and marketing of petroleum products in the country is vested exclusively with the government.

The following are the authorities, functions and responsibilities of BPC specified by the law: collection and importation of crude petroleum and other refined petroleum products; processing of crude petroleum and production of different grades of petroleum products; establishment of petroleum refinery and other associated facilities; production of base stock, necessary additives and other chemicals, and importation of lubricating oil; production of lubricating oil by blending; establishment of plants for recycling of used lubricants; establishment of infrastructure and adoption of necessary steps for processing of refinery residue products; planning and implementation of petroleum product storage facilities; collection/building of intercontinental oil tankers; building necessary facilities and their extensions for marketing of petroleum products; act as managing agent for signing of agreements with firms or companies for petroleum importation, storage, distribution and marketing in the country; monitoring, coordination of the subsidiary companies of BPC and any other functions and responsibilities as directed by the government.

There are eight companies operating under BPC: the only oil refinery of the country, eastern refinery limited (ERL); the three oil distribution and marketing companies, namely Padma Oil Company Limited, Jamuna Oil Company Limited and Meghna Oil Company Limited; two lubricant blending plants, namely Eastern Lubricants Blenders Limited and Standard Asiatic Oil Company Limited; one LPG bottling and distribution plant, LP Gas Limited and a bitumen production company, Asphaltic Bitumen Plant.

BPC with the help of its subsidiary companies has developed storage facilities at different points of the country for fuel oils to ensure timely supply and market regulation. BPC subsidiaries also use their marketing agents for product marketing at the local market. The major oil depots are located at Godnail, (Narayanganj), Daulatpur (Khulna), Fatullah (Narayanganj) and Baghabari (pabna). Medium-size depots are at Rangpur, Parbatipur (Dinajpur), Bhairab Bazar, Ashuganj, Srimangal, Dhaka, Chandpur, Barishal and jhalokati. Small depots are at Chilahati (kurigram), Balasi (gaibandha), Harian (rajshahi), natore, sylhet, Brahmanbaria. BPC has developed a storage capacity of 206,000 tons at its central establishments and approximately 688,000 tons at the other depots of the country.

Apart from importation, refining and distribution of fuel oils at the local market, the BPC has taken initiatives in the recent past to improve the quality of the fuel oils as well. BPC has also taken initiatives from July 1999 to import lead-free gasoline and diesel with reduced sulphur content from the international market for marketing in the country. [Mushfiqur Rahman]