CHATTOGRAM, Mar 6, 2024 (BSS) - State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has asked state run oil companies to make automation work faster aimed at ensuring better services and reducing wastage.

“Smart people will be the main driving force of smart Bangladesh. Everybody must keep them abreast with modern technology and oil industries should also be modern and smart,” he said.

Nasrul Hamid said this while visiting the 154-year old state owned petroleum industry at Patenga here today.

Laying importance on maintaining quality and quantity of oil products the minister said oil transports system should be modernized.

“Both physical security and cyber security of the oil companies are important,” he said.

Narul Hamid said automation of oil companies would be completed within next three years according to the schedule.

He hoped that automation will reduce pilferage, wastage, time and cost of the petroleum products, which would help the government to earn more revenue.

Nasrul Hamid also laid importance on enhancing the company’s storage capacity of the fuels from 2.90 lakh tons at present.

Installation of modern radar type auto trunk gauging system replacing manual system in main installations for measuring fuel oil should be done expeditiously in order to carry out fuel oil intake storage and supply operations smoothly, he said.

He asked the authorities to take steps for making the Padma Oil Company as a paper and cashless entity in line with the ministry’s initiative to its make all activities paperless and cashless aimed at curbing corruption and ensuring accountability.
 
Earlier, he inspected activities of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and its proposed projects. The state minister also cross-examined the layout of BPC's land demarcation.
 
Later, Nasrul Hamid visited Meghna Oil Company and Jamuna Oil Company and inspected their operational activities.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) Chairman ABM Azad and Managing Director of Padma Oil Company Limited Masudur Rahman, among others, were present.