Anisul Islam Noor :Some filling station owners are making additional profit by selling adulterated fuel across the country dodging the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).The volume of illegal trade of diesel and petrol stands about Tk 2,500 crore annually, for which the government is losing huge revenue, a study of BPC found. The study recommended for strong vigilance in the filling stations as they are selling adulterated fuel. Though seven months elapsed, the BPC has not yet taken necessary action in this regard, sources said.As a result, a syndicate of some private refineries and filling station owners is behind the uneven game, as per the report of the study conducted at a time when the government slashed the prices of condensate to Tk 42.60 from Tk 53 for private oil fractionation plant or small-scale refineries.Condensate is a low-density mixture of hydrocarbon liquids. The government also cut the procurement price of fuel oil from non-government refineries by 30 per cent. As a result, the BPC purchases octane for Tk 58 a litre as against the retail price of Tk 89, petrol for Tk 56 a litre against its retail price of Tk 86 and diesel for Tk 55 a litre while it is retail price is Tk 65.As many as 12 private oil refineries are cashing in on such huge difference between the retail price and the wholesale rate. These refineries have long been discreetly supplying sub-standard fuel oil to filling stations illegally, the BPC study said.The State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid admitting the issue said, “Yes, such adulterated fuel is posing a massive threat to automobile engines, and causing a huge revenue loss to the government.”He, however said, “We shall start drive against the errant petrol pump owners across the country with the help of District Magistrates.”Earlier on April, state-owned BPC had identified 103 unauthorised petrol pumps and fined six filling stations for selling adulterated fuels.”Adulteration has played havoc with the fuel oil sector. The responsible filling station owners and private fractionations must be subjected to stern action,” Nasrul Hamid said.It is alleged that some private refineries sell fuel oil directly to filling stations by tank-lorries, although government only approved Padma, Meghna and Jamuna Oil Companies can sell fuel oil to these stations.
