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Bashundhara launches mega bitumen plant


Published : 22 Feb 2020 11:39 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 01:24 PM

Bashundhara Group has launched on Saturday country's first-ever private sector Bitumen Plant with a large capacity aiming to cater to the growing demand for bitumen in Bangladesh. Bashundhara Group under its new concern Bashundhara Oil and Gas Company Ltd has built the 'Bashundhara Bitumen Plant' at Pangaon in Keraniganj on 65 acres of land. The plant is aimed at producing over 900,000 tonnes of bitumen and asphalt annually by 2021. 

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan and Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir were present at the launching ceremony of the country’s only private-sector Bitumen Plant at Pangaon. Finance Minister said that ‘this initiative has solved our problem of getting suitable bitumen for constructing roads and highways.’ Terming the initiative ahead of ‘Mujib Borsho’ unique one, Mustafa Kamal said this enterprise is aligned with the dream of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“We have been facing problems with imported bitumen as we never got suitable bitumen that matches our weather. We tried our best but failed to find any solution to that very problem. As a result our roads and highways did not last long,” he said. Mustafa Kamal also said Bashundhara Group has produced pitch for road carpeting for the first time in the country. From now on, Bangladesh has no need to import pitch for road carpeting, rather it will be able to export. 

The inauguration programme was attended by Bashundhara Group Vice Chairman Shafiat Sobhan Sanvir, Walid Sobhan and Professor Dr. M Shamim Z Bosunia. Keraniganj Upazila Parishad Chairman Shahin Ahmed was also present there. Bitumen is a binding organic material made from the by-products of refined crude oil.

It is widely used in road construction because it is easy to produce, reusable, non-toxic, and a strong binder. As Bangladesh is largely dependent on imported bitumen, the first-ever private sector venture by Bashundhara Group will be able to produce 850,000 tonnes of bitumen and asphalt annually. According to various sources, Bangladesh’s monthly bitumen demand is around 42,000 tonnes while the demand is growing at an average rate of 10-15 per cent a year. In addition to producing commonly used penetration grades road bitumen, Bashundhara Bitumen or Asphalt Plant has the facility to produce premium modified grades of bitumen upon demand. 

The plant has the capacity to produce bitumen grades such as Cutback, Emulsified, Oxidized and Polymer (SBS, Rubber Powder) and customised as per client's specifications. Also, usual penetration grades (60-7080-100) and modified grades can be produced and supplied upon demand from this plant. Drum production and filling facilities along with bulk loading facilities are being constructed to facilitate an efficient distribution system from the plant. Apart from this, fuel oil and some other by-products produced in the plant will be sold or disposed of to appropriate clientele. 

Bashundhara Bitumen Plant has been built with the state-of-the-art technology and the producer has the plan to export bitumen after meeting local demand. Bashundhara Group started its journey in 1987 through its real estate business. Now, the group is involved in over 20 different businesses, such as cement, food and beverage, paper and pulp, tissue paper, LPG bottling and distribution, energy sector and trading business.