Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) is not compiling a list of filling stations with GPS (Global Positioning System) maps in the country, despite several-time instructions of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division.
As a result, unhealthy competition and sale of adulterated oils are not being stopped. Besides, the decision to approve new filling stations is also stuck.
Such initiatives have been taken to prevent unfair competition among traders, prevent adulteration of oil and control its quantity and quality. The government will approve setting up a new filling station after screening, energy and mineral resources division officials said.
Energy and Mineral Resources Division sources said road connectivity is increasing across the country. Private cars and public transports are on the rise. Now there is a need for filling stations in rural areas too.
According to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, in February last year, it instructed the BPC to prepare a list of country’s filling stations with GPS maps through a software. As it was not sent even after seven months, in October the Energy Division gave the same instruction again. But BPC has not been able to make that list yet.
The issue was recently discussed at the monthly coordination meeting of the Energy Division. Asked about the progress of the list, the BPC secretary could not provide any information. At that time, Md. Mahbub Hossain, Senior Secretary of Energy Division expressed his dissatisfaction and instructed to make a quick list.
However, the issue was also discussed in the previous two monthly coordination meetings, where BPC promised to implement the decision in the next meetings.
When contacted over the matter, Md. Lal Hossain, Secretary of BPC, suggested that Khalid Ahmed, Director (Marketing/Ops & Plng) of the corporation, be contacted. However, Bangladesh Post tried to contact him, but did not get a response.
Approval for new filling stations in the country has stopped since 2016. However, a new fuel station was approved last year on special consideration. Applications for construction of many filling stations have been submitted to the Ministry and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).
The stalemate in setting up new filling stations is due to unfair competition. However, many owners of the existing filling stations have also worked at the policy-making stage against the construction of new filling stations.
An official said ‘Unfair competition among many traders has been seen due to an increase in the number of filling stations. As a result, many traders are mixing adulterated oil and dispensing less quantity. This initiative has been taken to stop this unfair competition.’
GPS maps will be made of the number of filling stations across the country. The decision will be taken later after checking and selecting whether any other filling station is needed at all.
According to BPC sources, there are 2,260 filling stations in the country. There are 368 filling stations in Chattogram, 558 in Dhaka, 144 in Sylhet, 120 in Mymensingh, 65 in Barishal, 330 in Khulna, 327 in Rajshahi and 348 in Rangpur division.
An official of the Energy Division said that along with diesel, CNG, petrol, octane, auto gas and electricity are also being used in motor vehicles. Some petrol and octane powered cars are converting to auto gas thinking of saving fuel. Again, the vehicles that can run on CNG are also being converted to auto gas. The government is thinking of expanding auto gas extensively across the country. Meanwhile, government and non-governmental organizations are constructing auto gas stations in the country. As a result, the type of fuel consumption is changing.