State-owned oil, gas and minerals corporation Petrobangla seeks to complete the drilling of a total of 48 wells at different gas fields hoping to add 618 MMCFD to national grid by 2025. This will be done through Petrobangla's own companies and outsourcing of contractors by next year. "We're very serious about implementing the plan on time and if necessary, we will seek a waiver from the provision of a mandatory feasibility study to avoid a time consuming process", said a top official of the Petrobangla. The official preferred anonymity as he is not authorised to talk to media. The plan is to add a total of 618 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) gas to the national grid when power, industries as well as many other sectors are reeling from gas shortage. Read more: Action against officials of Petrobangla companies if fail to achieve target: Nasrul According to an official document, obtained by UNB, of the planned 48 wells, 23 will be drilled using the rigs of the Bapex (Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited) while the remaining 25 will be done by the outsourcing of the contractors at the existing onshore gas fields under a crash programme. "These wells will be drilled as part of the government's ongoing plan to increase the gas production from the local gas fields ", another top official of the Petrobangla told UNB, also wishing anonymity. He, however, declined to comment officially as some of the wells' approval process still remains pending with the government's highest authority. Sources said Petrobangla took up the programme against the backdrop of the declining gas production with depleting reserve positions. The country's 20 gas fields, out of total 29, produce between 1,600 and 1,900 MMCFD gas while another 1000 MMCFD gas is being imported to meet the demand for about 4000 MMCFD. Read more: Petrobangla invites offshore bidding for oil, gas exploration Officials said the local fields are depleting fast and gas reserves are declining. Currently there is 9 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas in the country's reserve, out of a total of 30 TCF while 21 TCF has already been produced. The gas demand is growing fast as many of the gas-fired power plants and new industries are being set up across the country. As per a scenario -2 of a projection of the Petrobangla, the country's gas demand will go up to 5,092 MMCFD in 2029-30, 6072 MMCFD in 2034-35 and 6,986 in 2040-41. Actually, the plan for drilling 48 wells is a part of the ongoing plan under which drilling of a number of wells has already been completed, said another official of Petrobangla. Read more: Petrobangla now plans to invite int’l bidding for onshore blocks for hydrocarbon exploration: Chairman These wells include Bhola North-2, Togbi-1, Elisha-1, Srikail North-1, Shariatpur-1, Titas-24, Beanibazar-1, Koilash Tila-2, Sylhet-10, Rashidpur-2, and Sundalpur-3. These newly drilled wells have now been contributing 126 MMCFD gas to the national grid, noted the official.

Industries in Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj continue to be afflicted by an acute gas crisis, even though Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, the state-owned distributor of natural gas, claims the situation has improved. As reported in the media previously, garments and textiles firms in the industrial belt of these central districts have been suffering from an acute gas crisis for the last few months. “The factories are in dire straits,” a top top-level manager of a group of textile factories in Gazipur told UNB. Most of the industries in Gazipur do not get adequate supply of gas during their operational periods, the most crucial hours during which their machines need to be running. Inadequate supply manifests in the form of low pressure gas flow, he added. FBCCI urges for strengthening oil, gas exploration to ensure uninterrupted supply to industries Low pressure gas flow is akin to low voltage electricity - many appliances won't run, even though an electric charge is present. The textiles group official said that due to the lack of gas supply, production in various factories is being disrupted and they are on the verge of shutting down. In the ongoing gas crisis, important machines like generators and broilers in the dyeing section of the factories are not being run. This has been posing a great risk for the industries to continue their production and pushing them towards huge financial losses. “Many industries would not be able to pay the salaries and festival bonuses during the coming Eid if the situation does not improve,” said an industry owner. Industry insiders said there are more than 300 factories in Kaliakoir and other areas in Gazipur. All these industries have been suffering from the nagging gas crisis and some of them have already suspended their productions. 100% percent prepaid gas meters within four years: Nasrul Hamid Each of the industries has more than 1000 workers. But following the gas crisis, they have to reduce their production target while some of them use CNG at a higher cost to continue their operations. A similar situation is prevailing in the Mirpur, Tongi and Narayanganj areas, said Mohammad Hatem, Executive President, of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA). He said that despite increasing the price, the government is not able to provide adequate gas. “Production in garment factories has come down to half due to non-availability of gas. Many buyers meanwhile are pushing for air shipments as the normal schedule for shipments has failed in keeping the commitment,” he said adding, some buyers are asking for discounts on the rates. More gas likely to be found in Sylhet’s Kailashtila field: Nasrul “Some customers are upset and cancel the order in such a situation,” he noted. Recently the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) has also alleged that no industry in the country is able to run at its full potential due to the gas crisis. A Bangladesh Chamber Of Industries delegation, led by its president Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), raised the allegation when it met Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun at his ministry office. The lone chamber for industries said the prices of electricity and gas were increased on the pretext of increasing prices on the international market in the hope that the government would ensure their continuous supply. “But despite the declining trend of energy prices in the international market, it is being heard that the prices of electricity and gas will be increased again,” BCI said in a statement. Read more: Govt okays import of LNG cargo from Singaporean firm to meet gas demand It demands for a sustainable solution to the problem. “If a long term plan is given to the industrial sector in terms of power and gas supply, it can move forward accordingly." Titas Gas general manager Arpana Islam admitted the gas crisis. But she claimed that the situation has improved to some extent recently following measures to increase the gas supply. She advised to talk to Petrobangla when asked whether there is any possibility in near future to further improve the gas supply situation. Petrobangla official statistics reveal that in the last one month the total gas supply across the country has increased by just 100 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) or so, leaving a deficit between production and supply of about 1500 mmcfd. The Petrobangla data shows that on February 16 it produced 2671 mmcfd gas including its import from abroad against a demand for more than 4000 mmcfd. The TItas Gas data also shows that about 30 power plants now remained out of operation due to gas shortage. Read more: BNP denounces move to double monthly rent for prepaid gas meters

Gas supply to Chattagram and elsewhere has started to improve after a floating LNG terminal in Moheshkhali resumed production after its 45-day scheduled maintenance programme. “Excelerate Energy’s FSRU started production after scheduled maintenance today. Now it has been supplying 230 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd) and hopefully the supply will reach 500 mmcfd soon,” said a top official of the Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL). The RPGCL, a subsidiary of state-owned Petrobangla, has been responsible to import LNG from abroad and receive re-gasification service from the existing two LNG terminals in Moheshkhali, one set up by Summit Group and another by US-based Excelerate Energy. Each LNG terminal has a capacity to supply 500 mmcfd gas to the national gas network from which a major portion is supplied to Chattagram . Read: Energy Division regrets inconvenience from gas crisis in Chattagram, elsewhere The Excelerate Energy’s FSRU went on a 45-day maintenance programme suspending supply of gas to the national gas grid while the Summit’s FSRU experienced a technical fault halting gas supply to the national gas network, leading to a severe gas crisis in Chattagram and elsewhere. Many areas in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gazipur experienced extreme gas crises or low pressure problems. The RPGCL official, however, informed that Summit’s FSRU also resumed production to a very low scale and it is providing a supply of 130 mmcfd against its capacity of 500 mmcfd. He noted that the gas shortage problem is unlikely to be fully resolved as the Summit’s FSRU also has a schedule to start maintenance programme within 3-4 days. Read: Uninterrupted gas supply by 2026 : Nasrul Hamid outlines energy plans “We think the situation will improve to some extent, but not fully”, he told UNB. The Energy Division on Friday expressed regrets for the inconvenience caused to consumers over the gas crisis in Chattogram and elsewhere in the country due to the suspension of the LNG supply from FSRU in Moheshkhali following a technical fault there. In a press release, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division said that due to a technical fault at a Moheshkhali LNG FSRU, gas supply to Chattogram and other areas of the country remained suspended since early morning on Friday. Read more: Acute gas crisis hits Chattogram city residents hard

Different areas in Chattogram city have been experiencing shortage or low pressure in gas supply for the past one and a half months, hampering the household chores and production at industrial units. City dwellers said although the gas crisis started in the mid October, it has intensified recently. Some of them alleged that they do not get any gas even in 24 hours. According to Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL), the gas shortage in Chattogram port city turned acute due to suspension of gas supply from one of the two LNG terminals in Moheshkhali. Besides, the authorities also suspended gas supply in households due to maintenance purposes. KGDCL authorities said Chattogram used to some 310-400 million cubic feet of gas from the national grid during normal time but on January 3 it reveived only 280 million cubic feet. The city dwellers have been experiencing the gas crisis since October 22 and gas supply remains suspended from 9 am to 3 pm in most of the areas. Industries in Dhaka, adjoining areas to get Bhola’s gas in CNG form KGDCL authorities said the gas shortage may continue for a long time due to low pressure of gas supply from Moheshkhali LNG gas terminal. Meanwhile, Omar Hazzaz, president, Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCCI), urged State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid to take necessary steps to mitigate the sufferings of the consumers. He also sent a letter to the minister on Wednesday. “Chattogram needs 400-450 million cubic feet of gas but only 280 million cubic feet is available now. Of the total gas, nearly 100 million cubic feet gas is used in two fertilizer factories and one thermal power plant while the rest are being distributed to the residents, industries and CNG filling stations, which is not sufficient,” the letter reads. The rest of the gas is being distributed to a large number of residential consumers in the city, factories and CNG stations using various strategic methods. As a result, the factories and households are facing a serious gas crisis, it added. Industries in Dhaka, adjoining areas to get Bhola’s gas in CNG form Managing director of KGDCL (operation division), Engineer Aminur Rahman, said the people of Chattogram port city depend on LNG gas supply and the supply of gas has reduced remarkably. “It is difficult to say how long the crisis will stay,” he added. Talking to some residents in Lalkhan Bazar, Kazir Dewri, Askar DighirPar, Khulshi, Jamal Khan lane, Dewanji Pukur Par, Dewan Bazar, Hem Sen Lane, Shulokbohor, Ghat Farhadbegh, Bakolia, Chawkbazar and others area, this UNB correspondent found that people of those areas are passing their days in misery during this winter. Many residents of the areas said it is not new. Every year they experience gas crisis from November to February. Shahnur Sultana, an employee of a bank, said “Now I have to leave my house in the morning without having any breakfast as there is no gas in my house in the morning. We have to buy food from a local hotel.” KGDCL authorities said the gas supply to the domestic consumers has been disrupted as they have to supply gas to Chattogram Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL) and Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KFCL). Raid Uddin Ahmed, General Manager (Marketing, South Division) of KGDCL, said two Moheshkhali LNG terminals supply a total of 800-900 million cubic feet of gas to the national grid but now supply from one of them has been suspended due to maintenance work. The supply situation will improve after the completion of the maintenance work, he added. There are 6,01,914 consumers under KGDCL and of these, 5,97,516 connections are given to households. Gas supply from Bhola to Dhaka’s industries in CNG form begins

Many areas of the capital city Dhaka city have been hit by a gas shortage causing problems for the consumers. The situation may worsen in the coming winter as no necessary measure is in sight to address the problem.  According to official sources, the areas which have been severely suffering most due to the crisis include vast area of Mirpur and Mohammadpur, Basabo, old part of city, specially Lalbagh and Chawkbazar, Segunbagicha, Tejgaon, Dhanmondi and Gulshan. Residents in these areas alleged that they don’t get adequate gas during the day time. “In most of the time, we have to cook our meal during midnight when gas flow is found to be a little bit better. Otherwise, we need to use LPG as an alternative to piped-gas", said Taslima Begum, a resident in the Green Road area of Dhanmondi. Read: US eases oil, gas and gold sanctions on Venezuela after electoral roadmap signed “We have to spend a good amount of money for using LPG alongside paying to Titas Gas as consumers of its piped gas”, she told UNB this week. Halima Aktar, another Titas consumer living in Mohammadpur echoed the same, saying that she has to cook in the might as gas is not available from morning to 10 pm.      An employee of National Press Club noted that in most of the days in day-time the club has to face very low pressure in the gas pipe that disrupts normal cooking. Similar allegations of no gas supply in day time or low pressure in the gas line are being received from the consumers in different parts of the capital. Confirming the allegations, Md. Emam Uddin Sheikh, general manager of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited, said that the gas supply situation in Dhaka and adjoining areas is very much part of the country’s overall supply condition. Read: Gas supply to remain off for 7 hours in parts of capital Thursday “The country has a shortage of more than 1000 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMCFD) against the overall demand for 4000 MMCFD”, he told UNB. He informed that Titas Gas, which is responsible for gas supply to Dhaka and adjoining districts, now receives 1400-1500 MMCFD gas against a demand for 1800 MMCFD meaning a shortage of 300-400 MMCFD gas. However, official data of Petrobangla, the state-owned upstream organisation in the gas sector, shows that the country produces 2663.5 MMCFD gas on Monday including imported LNG (liquefied natural gas) against the demand of 4000 MMCFD. Read: At least 20 dead in gas station explosion as Nagorno-Karabakh residents flee to Armenia It shows that the country is getting 600 MMCFD gas from imported LNG as imports witnessed a fall in recent months from a normal 800-900 MMCFD. Official sources said the recent dollar crisis has forced Petrobangla to reduce its import of LNG which intensified the crisis in recent days. Official sources said it is unlikely that Petrobangla would be able to increase the import of LNG or increase the production from local sources within the next few months as there is no assurance of ending the ongoing dollar crisis. The country’s foreign exchange reserves declined to below $22 billion this year from $48 last year which put Petrobangla in trouble to get adequate dollars to pay its international suppliers against its purchase of LNG from the global market. The country’s gas industry insiders said that the overall gas supply situation deteriorate in the coming winter with no visible sign of easing the dollar crisis.

Gas supply will remain suspended for 8 hours from 2 pm to 10 pm on Thursday (March 02, 2023) for all kinds of consumers in different areas in the capital due to emergency tie-up works of pipelines. The areas include Mintoo Road, Eskaton, Pirbagh, Habibullah Road, Karwan Bazar, Old Elephant Road and areas adjacent to PG Hospital, Birdem Hospital, Dhaka Club, Holy Family Hospital, Dhaka University and Buet, said the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited. Also Read: GE offers high efficiency gas turbine tech to ease nagging energy crisis Regretting for the temporary inconveniences the Titas Gas authorities said the consumers  in other adjacent areas may experience low pressure in gas supply.

Gas supply will remain suspended for 11 hours from 1 pm to 12 am (mid night) in different areas of Dhaka on Wednesday (December 07, 2022). According to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited, the areas where there will be no gas supply due to emergency works in the pipeline include Tejgaon, Mohakhali, Gulshan, Banani, Natunbazar, Badda, and Khilbaritek. Read: Gas reserve found in abandoned well of Beanibazar The adjoining areas will experience low pressure in gas supply, said Titas Gas regretting the temporary inconvenience of the consumers during the period.

The countrywide load-shedding of electricity has been rising because of a huge gas shortage that has led to a significant fall in power generation. Bangladesh Power Development Board’s official data shows that the country had to resort to 1,500 MW of load-shedding on Sunday while there was a forecast of a power-cut of 1,273 MW. “But obviously, the authorities have to go for a load shedding of more than the projected amount”, said a top official of the BPDB, who preferred anonymity. The official data shows the country’s highest power generation was recorded 12,115 MW at the evening on Sunday against a demand for 13,615 MW meaning a 1,500 MW gap between the peak demand and supply in power generation. Also read: Electricity: Progress in pre-paid meter installation is slow despite high hope “This gap is being covered up by load shedding”, said the BPDB official. Normally, the power generation varies between 1300-1400 MW and the highest generation was recorded 14,782 MW on April 16 this year. According to BPDB official data, of the 1500 MW load shedding, Dhaka region experienced 400 MW while Chattagram 200 MW, Khulna 220 MW, Rajshahi 220 MW, Cumilla 140 MW, Mymensingh 120 MW, Sylhel 50 MW and Rangpur rewgions 150 MW on Sunday last. However, many energy experts don’t trust the BPDB statistics. Rather they believe that the extent of the load shedding and interruption in power supply is more than the official figure. “BPDB never provides an actual figure of its power supply scenario”, said energy expert and Consumers Association of Bangladesh’s senior vice chairman Prof M Shamsul Alam. Meanwhile, many consumers in the capital Dhaka and elsewhere reported a huge load shedding and frequent interruption in power supply. Habibure Rahman, a consumer of Uttara area in the city informed that he had to regularly experience load shedding in three to four spells a day and every time a power-cut continues for more than half an hour. Similar experiences were shared by consumers in other areas in the city including Malibagh, Mouchak, Nakhalpara, Shantinagar, Mogbazar, Niketon, Gulshan, Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Sutrapur, Jatrabari and Badda. They said the extent of such load shedding and interruption in power supply has been increasing in recent days. Also read: Ecnec clears Tk 6,179 cr project to enhance electricity network in Dhaka, Mymensingh BPDB officials attributed the fall in power generation to the shortage in gas supply. They said they have to suspend generation of 3650 MW of electricity due to shortage in gas supply to their power plants. Recently, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid admitted the crisis in power and gas supply. In his verified facebook page he wrote: “Power production is being disrupted due shortage of gas. As a result, power supply is being disrupted in many places. The power generation generally will be normal once the gas supply improved”. He also claimed the price hike of energy in the international market due to the war has put us in trouble like other countries. “In such a situation I regret the temporary inconvenience”, he added. State-owned Petrobangla officials noted that the country’s gas production and supply experienced a fall following a government decision not to import liquefied natural gas from the international spot market due to excessive price hike. The per MMBtu of LNG is being sold on the global market over $35 while a few months back it was below $25. As a result, the local gas supply has decreased to 2,822 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) from a regular supply of 3500 mmcfd which creates a shortage of about 700 mmcfd.