The state-owned Eastern Refinery PLC (ERL) is returning to full-scale production today, ending a prolonged shutdown caused by a severe shortage of raw materials. The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker 'MT Ninemia' has arrived at Kutubdia, Cox’s Bazar, carrying approximately 100,000 tonnes of crude oil from Saudi Arabia.
According to ERL Deputy General Manager (Operations) Mamunur Rashid Khan, refining operations are scheduled to resume after 5:00 PM today, Thursday (May 7).
"Initially, we have set a daily production target of 3,500 tonnes as we navigate necessary technical adjustments," Khan stated. "Output will be scaled up gradually."
ERL Managing Director Md. Sharif Hasnat confirmed that preparations for the oil supply are complete. He noted that if weather conditions remain favorable, all five refining units will be operational by this evening.
The refinery has faced a critical supply gap since February 18. Geopolitical tensions following the conflict involving Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, halting shipments from the Persian Gulf. For the past six weeks, ERL survived on 'dead stock'—the residual oil at the bottom of its pipelines. During this crisis, two units were completely shut down, and the facility’s output dropped from 13 types of fuel to just two.
