Uncertainty regarding the procurement process of one lakh ton of diesel and furnace oil for proposed 17 power plants is likely to be delayed affecting 1,380MW of electricity generation by 2011, sources in the Power Division said.

The PDB will need 33,600 tons of diesel for producing 500MW of electricity from five proposed diesel-run power plants----Ghorasal 200MW power plant, Katakhali-100MW power plant, Bheramara 100MW power plant, Syedpur-50MW power plant and Thakurgaon 50MW power plant.

Besides, 66,000 tons of furnace oil will be needed to generate 830MW of electricity from 12 furnace oil based power plants-- Khulna South 100MW, Dohazari, Chittagong 100MW power plant, Gopalganj 100MW power plant, Madanganj 100MW Power Plant, Noapara, Jessore100MW Power Plant, Katakhali, Rajshahi 50MW power plant, Barisal 50MW power plant, Bera 50MW power plant, Faridpur 50MW power plant, Shantahar 50MW power plant and Bagabari 50MW power plant.

"The Ministry could not take any decision regarding the mechanism of procurement of additional one lakh tons of diesel and furnace oil, mode of transportation and stock capacity of additional fuel in a year," an official source said. The Energy Division met the Power Division officials to ensure one lakh tons of diesel and furnace oil supply in the 17 power plants last week, he said. "But, the meeting ended inconclusively," he added.

Officials of the Power Division will meet with the Energy Division officials next week for decision in this regard, he said. During the meeting, Energy Division Secretary Mohammed Mohsin asked the Power Division officials to keep the Energy Division informed of its decision as regards installation of any power plant to avoid difficulties in fuel procurement. Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) stock capacity of diesel is now 2,48,513 tons and furnace oil is 78,703 tons in its five depots and the lone Eastern Refinery Limited. PDB Chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir, BPC Chairman Anwarul Karim, among others, were present in the meeting.

-New Nation