The government has designated Payra as the country’s third seaport with approval for future imports of explosive products. A gazette issued by the energy and mineral resources division on January 10 amended the Explosive Regulations 2004, permitting Patuakhali’s Payra to import explosive products.
As per the new regulation, only Chattogram, Mongla, and Payra seaports, along with others to be announced by the government, will be authorized to import explosive products, excluding any other sea routes.
Payra Port commenced limited operations in August 2016 and has regularly received coal and other cargo-carrying ships since September 2019.
Approval for imports through airports is granted only for selected items, such as gunpowder, mixtures of nitrate and chlorate, fulminate, ammunition, and firework composition, by the DoE.
In the fiscal year 2022-23, the DoE approved the import of 12,258 tonnes of sulfur, 250 tonnes of calcium carbide, and over 2 lakh gas cylinders.
