C T Online Desk: An oil tanker named MT Fossil has arrived at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port carrying 100,000 tonnes of crude oil from Fujairah Port in the United Arab Emirates.
Oil unloading from the vessel began around 10:30am on Friday using lighter vessels after the tanker reached the anchorage area.
Confirming the development, General Manager (Operations and Planning) of Eastern Refinery, Md Mostafizur Rahman, said that around 25–26 lighter vessels may be required to complete the unloading process.
He added that all crude oil is expected to reach the refinery within the next 8–10 days.
Earlier, on 6 May, another vessel named MT Ninemia brought 100,000 tonnes of crude oil to Bangladesh from Yanbu Port in Saudi Arabia.
Crude oil supply had been disrupted since 18 February amid instability in Middle Eastern countries due to regional tensions, including fears of a possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
As a result, a shortage of crude oil emerged, forcing Eastern Refinery to suspend its processing operations from 12 April.
Following the arrival of MT Ninemia on 6 May, full-scale production at Eastern Refinery resumed from the morning of 8 May.
