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Wednesday | July 29, 2026 | Dhaka

Jet fuel supply risk at Osmani Airport

 New Nation
 Published: 12:00 AM, 30 November 2023

Sylhet Bureau :

Sylhet’s Osmani Airport has a significant position as an international airport.

Accordingly, various works are going on for its modernization including construction of new terminal, expansion of runway.

Recently, the jet fuel supply hydrant line was exposed while the excavator was digging the ground for the apron extension and the optical fiber cable (OFC) of the depot’s PLC system was cut.

As a result, Osmani Airport is at risk of uninterrupted supply of jet fuel.

Padma Oil Company Limited has written a letter to the Director of Osmani Airport on November 20 informing about this matter.

Deputy Manager (Aviation) on behalf of the Managing Director of Padma. In the letter signed by Anwar Sadat, it is mentioned that the Jet A-1 hydrant line operated by Padma Oil was exposed during the digging of soil by excavator during apron extension work in the area adjacent to boarding bridge No. 4 by the Civil Aviation Authority (Babychak). At that time the OFC cable of the depot’s PLC system was cut.

As a result, the depot was disconnected from the emergency shut-off button (ESB) in the apron area. On the other hand, the underground power line from Babychak electrical substation to Padma Oil depot has become the apron extension area.

Hence it is necessary to ensure safety and risk avoidance in refueling aircrafts operating at airports by immediate reconnection of isolated ESBs.

The letter also said that the hydrant line is one of the fuel supply systems of Osmani Airport and if there is any problem in the hydrant, various complications may arise including stopping the supply of fuel to the airport.

In addition, there are hydrant line valve chambers in the apron extension work area adjacent to No. 4 boarding bridge. There was concern that this valve chamber would become unusable during apron extension.

As the pipeline is exposed due to soil excavation, the next time the work has to be done carefully or the level of the pipeline may change. Due to which the oil supply will be interrupted.