TCP told to import 0.15 million tons of urea on urgent basis

The Federal government has directed the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to import another 0.15 million tons of urea, on an urgent basis to meet shortages during the Kharif season. With the import of 0.15 million tons of urea total import by TCP during current year will surge to 0.3 million tons.
Sources said the federal government has also directed TCP to take all necessary measures for immediate import of urea and to ensure first consignment as soon as possible. Following the directive, the TCP on Friday released a gallop import tender inviting bids from international suppliers for the supply of urea.
Sources said that TCP has issued the tender under clause 42d (III) of PPRA rules 2044 for immediate import of urea from pre-qualified foreign urea exporters/suppliers of TCP, which can supply of 0.15 million tons of ten percent more or less on seller's option in bulk through import from world-wide sources on C&F Gwadar port, subject to the terms and condition specified in the tender documents.
According to tender terms and conditions, the TCP has strictly asked for supply of urea in accordance with the standard and specifications described by Pakistan Standard &Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) for urea and import laws of the country including import policy.
In addition, the TCP has fixed a minimum quantity of 50,000 tons for bids and said that bids of less than minimum quantity will not be considered or accepted. The TCP has also set a condition that urea must reach the designated port of Pakistan at the earliest but not later than September 30, 2011. As per directive, urea will be imported through Gwadar port. According to the TCP tender, to be released on Saturday, interested pre-qualified urea suppliers, can supply urea from world-wide origins. They may submit their bids in sealed envelopes at TCP offices by August 22, 2011 latest by 10:30 am, and bids will be opened the same day after half an hour.
It is expected that first urea consignment will reach Pakistan in second week of September 2011, and will need five days for bank guarantee and few more days will be required for loading and shipment, according an official of TCP. He said that the corporation was aware of urea shortage in the domestic market and was closely monitoring international urea market.