The government plans to set up world-class model filling stations or petrol pumps in different parts of the country for the first time.
But the work goes on at a snail’s pace for want of suitable land, investment security and other hurdles.
Md Anisur Rahman, Senior Secretary of the Energy Division, has recently directed the three state-owned marketing companies to build at least three model filling stations during the ‘Mujib Barsho’ to mark Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary by this year.
State-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) official said a total of 9 model petrol pumps will be set up with the financial support from private entrepreneurs. Three state-owned companies-- Padma Oil Company Limited, Meghna Petroleum Limited and Jamuna Oil Company Limited—are supervising the task.
The Energy Division is learnt to have issued No Objection Certificate (NOC) for setting up 9 model petrol pumps. However, till now, Letter of Intent (LOI) has been issued for the construction of only 5 model petrol pumps.
A BPC high official said the model pump, spreading on an area of 2.15 acres of land, will have a mini park, playground for children, improved toilet, dormitories, restaurant, modern pharmacy, breast-feeding room for mother, dress changing room, parking space with all other passengers’ facilities. People will go for filling fuel like petrol, octane, diesel and CNG there.
Md Masudur Rahman, Managing Director of Padma Oil Company Limited, said they have issued a letter of intent (LOI) to build a model pump and its land development work is going on. It is very difficult to complete the total work during the ‘Mujib Barsho’.
When contacted Mir Saifullah-Al-Khaled, Managing Director of Meghna Petroleum Limited, said, “It needed at least Taka 10 crore to build the pump as per the design. So, it is not possible to complete the work within this short time. However, we expect that the commercial operation of a pump will start by the end of 2021.’
Md Abu Saleh Iqbal, General Manager (Operations & Planning) of Padma Oil Company Limited told Bangladesh Post, “We are working to set up two model filling stations within the stipulated time. Out of the two pumps, one is located in Tangail district on the Dhaka-Tangail highway and other is in Sylhet on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway. Insa Allah, the pumps will be visible during the ‘Mujib Barsho’. We are monitoring continuously.”
Md Ayub Hossain, General Manager (Marketing) of Jamuna Oil Company Limited, told Bangladesh Post, “We were requested by our dealers and distributors to set up such model pumps. Some of them agreed. They are now working with their own fund and we are monitoring their work. Out of the two pumps, one will be built at Sitakundu of Chattagram and the other at Sherpur of Bogora district. They assured us that they would complete the work within ‘Mujib Barsho’.
Syed Sazzadul Karim, President of the Petrol Pump Owners’ Association, said the first problem in building model petrol pumps is that it requires more than two acres of land, which is expensive. Huge investments are also needed to materialise such dream.
‘Many pump owners set up their filling stations with bank loan. They have to struggle to pay the interest against the loan. Meanwhile, we are also thinking about security. If there is such a facility, many people will come ahead to set up filling stations. Besides, the land that is being discussed about for this work is more difficult to find adjacent to the highway. Land prices will also be high there. So, it is difficult to implement model petrol pump project,” he added.
