Dhaka, 15 April (H.S.): Bangladesh’s sole state‑owned oil refinery, Eastern Refinery Limited, in Chittagong (now Chattogram) has been forced to halt production due to a shortage of crude oil.

The two main processing units at the refinery were shut down on Tuesday afternoon, while the third unit continues to operate at partial capacity, producing only small quantities of petrol and octane. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division’s spokesperson, Monir Hossain Chowdhury, confirmed the suspension. No refinery official was willing to comment on the situation.

According to Dhaka Tribune sources, the crisis stems from a shortfall in crude‑oil supply, compounded by supply‑chain disruptions related to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. A shipment of crude remains stuck in Saudi Arabia, causing inventories to dwindle since the beginning of the month. The refinery had been operating on alternative measures since 5 April.

Eastern Refinery typically processes about 4,500 tonnes of crude oil daily, yielding around 13 refined‑fuel products, including octane, petrol, diesel, and furnace oil. Because of the crude shortage, output has already dropped to roughly 3,500 tonnes per day over the past month.

The current instability, fuelled by the U.S.–Israel–Iran conflict, has halted crude imports for nearly two months. The next shipment is expected to arrive in the first week of May. The refinery has a crude‑oil storage capacity of about 150,000 tonnes and can store up to 250,000 tonnes of refined fuel.

The government insists that no immediate fuel shortage is expected even with the refinery shut down, as the country holds sufficient reserves of refined petroleum products. In fact, since the conflict began, authorities have purchased these products at higher prices to maintain stock levels.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar