Bashundhara Group under its new concern Bashundhara Oil and Gas Company Ltd has built the ‘Bashundhara Bitumen Plant’ at Pangaon in Keraniganj.

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 will be present at the launching ceremony of the country’s private-sector Bitumen Plant at Pangaon.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 will have the capacity to produce bitumen grades such as Cutback, Emulsified, Oxidized and Polymer (SBS, Rubber Powder) and customized as per client’s required specifications, said a top official of Bashundhara Group.

Also, usual penetration grades (60-70/80-100) 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, a leading business conglomerate in the country, has over 20 major concerns located in different areas of the country. It covers diverse activities involving the production of cement, paper and pulp, tissue paper, LPG bottling and distribution, Energy, and a trading company, among others.