Chattogram, May 08 (V7N) — Operations at Eastern Refinery Limited in Chattogram have fully resumed after remaining shut for 23 days due to a crude oil shortage linked to instability in the Middle East.

Refining activities officially restarted at 8:00 am on Friday (May 8) using crude oil imported from Saudi Arabia.

According to company officials, the refinery began preliminary processing at around 7:30 am through its fired heater system before moving into full-scale crude refining operations a few hours later.

Following processing, refined petroleum products including petrol, octane and diesel are now being transferred to designated tank farm storage facilities. Simultaneously, crude oil unloading operations are continuing from a lighterage vessel positioned at the refinery jetty.

Officials said the refined fuel products will be supplied to Bangladesh’s three state-owned fuel distribution companies after processing is completed.

Two of the refinery’s three operational units had been shut down on April 14 because of an insufficient crude oil supply, mainly caused by disruptions related to the ongoing Middle East conflict and shipping complications around the Strait of Hormuz.

The situation eased after the crude oil tanker MT Nemenia, loaded from Yanbu Port in Saudi Arabia while avoiding the Strait of Hormuz route, arrived at Port of Chittagong on Wednesday morning.

END/SMA/AJ