PEC invites bids for edible oil import
Close on the heels of NAFED and MMTC deciding to expand the volume of edible oil imports, another state-owned trading firm PEC on Wednesday invited bids from global suppliers of palm oil and soyabean oil.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: Close on the heels of NAFED and MMTC deciding to expand the volume of edible oil imports, another state-owned trading firm PEC on Wednesday invited bids from global suppliers of palm oil and soyabean oil.
"We have not yet decided the quantity or the timing of imports. The tender is meant to explore the possibility," a senior PEC official said.
In two separate bids, PEC has invited expression of interest (EoI) from global plam oil and soya oil exporters for imports as well as from domestic refiners for refining and packaging of the imported oils.
The last date of submission of interest for both EoIs is June 22, the official said.
The edible oil industry sees the development of state agencies increasing their volume of imports as a step to support government's plan of including the commodity in public distribution system.
Since public sector firms lack retail infrastructure at the national level, they may be preparing for the proposed supply under PDS, an industry official said.
However, the PEC official termed the move to invite EoIs as an independent trading decision and not based on any government directive.
MMTC early this month invited EoIs from oil processors and packers asking them to give details of their capacity.
NAFED would also raise volume of edible oil imports to meet domestic demand, its Managing Director Alok Ranjan had recently said.
Edible oils import during the first six months of the oil year 2006-07 (November-October) stood at 17.07 lakh tonnes.
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