Govt cancels deal with Summit Group to set up third floating LNG terminal

The authorities has terminated a contract with Summit Community to build a third floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal.

Petrobangla, the relate-owned strength company, issued an say nowadays (7 October), cancelling the agreement below a sure rules with Summit Community.

The agreement was once signed in March below a sure rules with out a competitive bidding task.

Summit Community’s proposed FSRU-3 would admire been the country’s third LNG terminal, and the 2nd one operated by Summit following its present facility in Maheshkhali.

No topic criticism and considerations, the used Awami League authorities proceeded with the deal at a high stamp.

“This night, now we admire acquired a termination behold of the FSRU Terminal Exercise Agreement (TUA). We predict here is unjustified and could perhaps simply silent be intriguing for a overview,” Summit Community said in an legitimate observation.

In line with the observation, Summit Community has a confirmed discover epic of rising long-timeframe infrastructure projects in Bangladesh in a guilty and clear manner.

Fresh investigations into Aziz Khan and Summit Community admire uncovered allegations of corruption and monetary irregularities.

The day earlier than nowadays (6 October), the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) directed banks to freeze all accounts of Summit Community Chairman Muhammed Aziz Khan and sought monetary institution legend recordsdata of eleven members of his household.

On 6 December closing twelve months, the Cupboard Committee on Authorities Aquire well-liked a proposal of the relate-owned Petrobangla to award contract to the Summit Community for developing the fresh floating LNG terminal.

As per approval, the Summit Summit Oil & Shipping Co Ltd, a subsidiary of the Summit Community, signed a 15-twelve months Terminal Exercise Agreement (TUA) and Implementation Agreement (IA) to space up LNG terminal with a ability of handling 600 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) to produce the LNG regasification carrier at a rate of $300,000, comparable to Tk3.31 crore.

In line with sources at the Ministry of Energy, Vitality and Mineral Resources, Summit Community, with its shut ties to used Awami League authorities, exercised undue influence over authorities policies and procedures. The company is accused of dismissing relate rules and rules, bending authorities plans to its will, and prioritising its own interests over these of the country.

Energy Pattern Board (PDB) sources said Summit Community’s strength crops, including these in Shantahar and Syedpur, admire been well-liked below questionable circumstances. After Summit Community didn’t complete these oil-essentially based mostly crops on time, several build apart a query to letters admire been issued.

Later, the PDB decided to confiscate $1.2 million of Summit’s security deposit as per legislative measures. Then again, below the influence of Summit Chairman Muhammad Aziz Khan, the then Minister of Philosophize for Energy, Enamul Haque, ordered the withdrawal of the confiscation behold.

The deadline for the projects was once furthermore extended, and the locations admire been shifted to Narayanganj’s Madanganj and Barishal in ought to Shantahar and Syedpur, which straight conflicted with the PDB’s master opinion.