A shipment of crude oil from Saudi Arabia has arrived at Kutubdia in Cox’s Bazar, marking a significant step towards the resumption of operations at the state-owned Eastern Refinery PLC, which had been operating under severe crude shortages in recent weeks.
The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel MT Ninemia anchored at Kutubdia carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia. According to official accounts, the cargo is reported as both 100,000 tonnes and 194,000 metric tonnes in different statements. The arrival of this shipment is expected to enable the refinery to restart full production after facing near shutdown conditions due to a lack of raw materials.
Eastern Refinery PLC Deputy General Manager (Operations) Mamunur Rashid Khan stated that the vessel has brought crude oil from Saudi Arabia and is now anchored at Kutubdia. He added that, if all procedures proceed as planned, refining operations are expected to restart after 5 pm on Thursday (7 May). Initial production is projected at around 3,500 tonnes per day, with output deliberately kept lower at the beginning due to technical coordination requirements. Production is expected to be increased gradually over time.
Managing Director of Eastern Refinery PLC, Md. Sharif Hasnat, confirmed that all necessary arrangements for oil processing have already been completed. He further stated that, weather permitting, full-scale production will resume across five processing units from Thursday afternoon.
The refinery had been facing operational constraints since late February due to disruptions in crude oil supply routes. Following geopolitical tensions and reported restrictions affecting the Strait of Hormuz, shipments from the Persian Gulf region became uncertain. As a result, no new crude oil consignments arrived in the country after 18 February.
For approximately one and a half months, the refinery sustained limited operations using remaining “dead stock” crude stored within its pipeline system. Out of five processing units, three continued to operate at reduced capacity, while the remaining two were shut down. Production capacity also declined significantly, with output reduced from thirteen fuel categories to only two during the period of shortage.
Shipment and Operational Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel name | MT Ninemia |
| Flag state | Marshall Islands |
| Cargo origin | Saudi Arabia |
| Cargo quantity | 100,000 tonnes / 194,000 metric tonnes (reported figures) |
| Arrival location | Kutubdia, Cox’s Bazar |
| Arrival vessel status | Anchored |
| Expected restart time | After 5 pm, Thursday (7 May) |
| Initial production target | ~3,500 tonnes per day |
| Operating units on restart | 5 units (gradual full activation) |
| Prior operational status | 3 units partially running, 2 shut down |
| Supply disruption period | Since 18 February |
With the arrival of fresh crude oil, the refinery is set to stabilise its production activities after weeks of constrained output, restoring a more regular supply of refined petroleum products to the domestic market