The price of a 12kg LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinder has been increased by Tk 150.56 to be sold by private operators effective from this month.
The price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has increased by around Tk12.5 per kg – from Tk103.34 to Tk115.92. The price of LPG cylinder of other sizes will also increase at the same rate.
The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced the new prices at a virtual press conference on Thursday and said it will come into effect from 6:00pm of Thursday.
However, the price of the state-owned LP Gas Company's LPG will remain unchanged. The official price of 12.5 kg LPG remained at Tk 591.
Under the new price, a 12kg LPG cylinder will now cost Tk 1,390.56 up from the previous price of Tk 1,240 in February, including the value-added tax (VAT).
Meanwhile, the price of autogas or LPG used for motor vehicles has increased from Tk 57.81 to Tk 64.78 per litre, while the price of per kg centrally controlled (reticulated) LPG has increased from Tk 100.10 to Tk 112.65.
BERC chairman Abdul Jalil said the LPG price has increased as the Saudi contract price of propane and butane has increased from $775 per tonne on an average to $911 per tonne on average.
The BERC chairman further said the Russia-Ukraine war has pushed up the LPG prices globally, creating a crisis in the energy market. Earlier, local suppliers faced supply disruptions. But now the problem has been resolved.
According to industry insiders, the Saudi CP is normally announced at the end of every month to make it effective from the next month, and it takes at least 7-10 days for a shipment of the fuel to arrive in the country.
Earlier, in January, the price of LPG was reduced by Tk 50, while in December, the price was cut to Tk 1,228 from Tk 1,313 at the retail level after five months of consecutive hikes. In July-November last year, the country saw a Tk 471 rise in a 12kg cylinder provided by the private operator.
The BERC for the first time fixed the retail-level LPG price on April 12, 2021 after holding a public hearing to comply with a High Court order. Since then, the prices have been updated every month.
The other members of the BERC were present at the event.
