Fuel Depots Nationwide to Close for Annual Stocktaking

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has announced that all fuel depots and major petroleum installations across the country will suspend fuel supply and marketing operations on Wednesday, 1 July, to facilitate annual stocktaking, asset valuation and physical verification of petroleum products.

The temporary suspension, announced through an official order issued by the state-owned corporation, is part of BPC’s routine end-of-financial-year procedures aimed at ensuring the accuracy of fuel inventories and maintaining financial accountability across its nationwide distribution network.

According to the directive, the annual closing inventory count and physical verification exercise will be carried out simultaneously at all principal installations and depots operated by companies under BPC. As a result, the corporation has instructed that fuel marketing and distribution activities remain suspended for the entire day at all facilities, including the main petroleum installation in Chattogram.

The order was signed by Ferdousi Masum Himel, General Manager of BPC’s Distribution and Monitoring Division, who stated that the annual verification programme is an essential administrative exercise conducted to reconcile physical fuel stocks with official inventory records and evaluate corporate assets before the close of the financial reporting period.

The suspension will affect the routine dispatch and marketing of petroleum products from depots across the country. Such annual verification exercises are intended to ensure transparency in stock management, identify any discrepancies between recorded and actual inventories and support the preparation of accurate financial statements.

Despite the temporary halt in general fuel distribution, BPC has taken special measures to ensure that aviation services remain unaffected.

The corporation has instructed the relevant depots to complete the annual verification of Jet A-1 aviation fuel storage tanks as quickly as possible so that uninterrupted fuel supplies can continue for both domestic and international airlines. Officials said every effort would be made to avoid any disruption to flight operations during the stock verification process.

The move reflects the strategic importance of maintaining continuous aviation fuel supplies, particularly at the country’s international airports, where any interruption could affect scheduled passenger and cargo flights.

BPC’s directive emphasises that the temporary closure is solely intended to facilitate the smooth completion of the annual stocktaking exercise. The corporation has requested the cooperation of all concerned organisations to ensure that the verification process is completed efficiently and within the scheduled timeframe.

Copies of the official order have been sent to the heads of all organisations operating under the BPC umbrella, including Jamuna Oil Company Limited, Padma Oil Company Limited, Meghna Petroleum Limited and Eastern Refinery Limited, along with the managers of all principal installations and fuel depots nationwide.

These organisations play a central role in Bangladesh’s petroleum supply chain, handling the storage, transportation and distribution of diesel, petrol, octane, kerosene, furnace oil and aviation fuel to consumers, industries and public utilities across the country.

Annual inventory verification is a standard financial and operational practice for petroleum organisations, particularly those managing strategic fuel reserves. The exercise enables authorities to reconcile stock records, assess the value of petroleum assets, verify storage volumes and ensure compliance with financial and operational standards.

BPC has not indicated any extension of the suspension beyond Wednesday and expects normal fuel supply and marketing activities to resume once the stock verification process has been completed.

The corporation has advised all stakeholders to take note of the temporary suspension and make any necessary arrangements in advance, while assuring that aviation fuel supplies will continue without interruption to support domestic and international flight operations.