Despite growing concerns about fuel supplies amid tensions in the Middle East, six ships carrying liquid fuels and gas have arrived at Chittagong port this week. Port authorities and local shipping agents said the shipments could bring temporary relief to the country’s fuel supply.
According to the information received, two of the arriving ships brought a total of about 126,000 tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG). In addition, two ships brought about 40,000 tons of furnace oil and one ship brought about 19,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Another ship carrying about 14,000 tons of liquid hydrocarbon condensate arrived at Chittagong Port from Malaysia on March 5.
Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Syed Refaet Hamim said that LNG has been loaded onto three ships for Bangladesh from the Ras Laffan Terminal in Qatar. Two of these ships have already crossed the Strait of Hormuz and they contain a total of about 120,000 tons of LNG.
According to local shipping agents, a third LNG-carrying ship has not yet crossed the Strait of Hormuz. In addition, another ship carrying about 22,000 tons of LPG has departed from Sohar Port in Oman for Chittagong Port.
In addition, a ship carrying about 30,000 tons of diesel from Singapore is expected to reach Chittagong by March 12.
Oil prices have started to rise rapidly in the international market. According to Reuters, crude oil prices have recently exceeded $90 per barrel, which is one of the fastest price increases in the past few years.
According to analysts, if this continuity of supply is maintained, the fear of a potential crisis in the country’s energy market may be somewhat reduced.