Gas supply will remain off for 12 hours at different areas in Narsingdi on Wednesday (October 23). According to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC, gas supply will remain off from 10 am to 10 pm on Wednesday at Chinishpur, Abed Textile, Ghoradia, Narsingdi, Thermax Group, Boishakhi Spinning, Kararchar area. New gas reserve found in another Sylhet well During the period, the low pressure may prevail in gas supply in the adjoining areas, said Titas Gas regretting the temporary inconvenience to the consumers.

New gas reserve has been found in another well in Sylhet Gas Field, Managing Director of Sylhet Gas Fields Limited (SGFL) Mizanur Rahman said on Tuesday. He said the new gas was found at the Well No. 7 of the gas field after completion of the drilling. He said the field is expected to produce 7-8 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMCFD). “The new gas was discovered at a depth of 1,200 meters in the well.” He also noted that on August 14, gas was found from a similar structure of the well at the depth 2010 meters from which primarily 6 to 7 MMCFD is being produced. “Now the new gas is an addition to the previous one, “ he said adding, “We hope that new gas will be possible to add to the national grid shortly.” Govt to float open tender to drill 26 wells in gas fields soon: Energy Adviser The BGFL officials said that following drilling of a number of wells, some 60-70 MMCFD gas was obtained which is now being supplied to the national grid. Earlier, on May 24 of this year, 21 MMCFD gas was found in well No. 8 of Kailashtila gas field in Sylhet after drilling to a depth of 3,440 meters in the well. Before this, on January 27, a new gas structure was found in well No. 2 of Rashidpur under Sylhet gas field which has a reserve of about 157 billion cubic feet (BCF). The gas fields operated under the SGFL have been supplying more than 100 MMCFD gas to the national grid. The officials said they have been working to increase the production level to 150 MMCFD by completing a few more projects this year. If all the work is completed by 2025 as per the time set by the government, it will be possible to add 250 MMCFD gas to the national grid from the fields under the SGFL alone, said a top official.

The government’s initiative to invite an open tender for the drilling of 26 wells across various onshore gas fields, aimed at boosting domestic gas production, is likely to face a delay of another month, according to official sources. The delay is primarily due to the ongoing preparation of tender documents, the sources indicated. Three gas exploration and production companies under the state-owned Bangladesh Minerals, Oil, and Gas Corporation, commonly known as Petrobangla – Sylhet Gas Fields Limited (SGFL), Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited (BGFCL), and Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) – were expected to float the tender by the second week of October. However, the companies were unable to do so as the documents were not finalised for publication in newspapers and on relevant government websites. Earlier, at a press briefing on October 3 at the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, Petrobangla chairman Zanendra Nath Sarker announced that he had sent a proposal to the ministry for approval and expected that the tender would be invited within a week of receiving the green light. Power and Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, speaking at the same briefing, assured that the government would soon float an open tender to drill 26 wells in different gas fields to increase domestic gas production. He said that the government would refrain from awarding contracts on a G-to-G basis or signing unsolicited agreements with foreign companies. “This initiative aims to reduce our reliance on imported LNG, which is costly and drains foreign currency,” said the adviser. Read: Petrobangla now plans to invite int’l bidding for onshore blocks for hydrocarbon exploration: Chairman Regarding the delay, Fouzul Kabir told UNB that his ministry is seeking assistance from a procurement expert in preparing the tender documents, which has contributed to the time taken. Petrobangla chairman Zanendra Nath Sarker explained that, historically, documents for similar contracts were prepared under the Speedy Increase of Power and Energy Supply (Special Provision) Act 2010. "But this time, we must adhere to the Public Procurement Rules (PPR) 2008 to invite an open tender, which is causing the delay." He expressed optimism that SGFL could issue the tender within a week, while BGFCL and BAPEX may require the full month to be ready. At the October 3 briefing, the Energy Adviser also highlighted a government plan to drill 100 wells between 2025 and 2028. Of these, 69 will be exploration and development wells, while the remaining 31 will be work-over wells. BAPEX will drill 43 of the 69 exploration wells, while the remaining 26 wells will be outsourced to contractors via open tender. Read more: Sinopec, Halliburton launch spud drilling in onshore block-SS-04 BAPEX will use its own rigs to drill 33 wells across various gas fields, with another 10 wells set to be drilled using rented rigs. “We aim to fully utilise BAPEX’s capabilities,” the adviser told reporters.

Though two separate deals were signed with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank about a year ago to install some 17.5 lakh (1.75 million) smart pre-paid metres, the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company has made little progress in implementing the project. “Only some individual consultants were appointed by Titas Gas PLC. No project management consultant (PMC) has been appointed as yet,” said a senior official of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division. Explaining the significance of the PMC he said has it critical role in implementing a project as it holds the responsibility to plan and design the project. “The main technical aspects remain in the hand of the PMC. Normally one or two foreign companies are appointed as PMC”, he told UNB. Newly appointed Managing Director of the Titas PLC Shahnewaz Parvez also admitted the poor progress of the smart prepaid metre project. He, however, said that the appointment of PMC is under process and hoped that the Titas will be able to appoint the consultant soon. Official sources said Titas Gas signed two separate loan agreements in November last year with the World Bank and ADB to install a total of 17.5 lakh prepaid meters under two projects. On November 23 in 2023, Titas signed a loan agreement with the World Bank for installation of 11 lakh smart prepaid meters under the Gas Sector Efficiency and Carbon Abatement Project. The gas transmission and distribution company also signed another agreement with the Asian Development Bank on November 28 in 2023 for the installation of 6.50 lakh smart prepaid meters under the Smart Metering Energy Efficiency Improvement Project. Read: JS body recommends taking steps to gain prepaid meter consumers’ trust The government had undertaken the smart prepaid metre project for the Titas Gas PLC, to reduce the excessive system loss to a reasonable level. As the oldest and largest gas distribution both in terms of its operational area and volume of natural gas sales among the six gas distribution companies, the Titas Gas has been reeling with 7 percent system loss. Titas Gas officials said the company has to incur a loss of Tk 150-180 crore per month for its system loss. They said the entity can save Tk1,800-2,160 crore a year if such a huge system loss is checked. Titas Gas has so far installed about 3.5 lakh of prepaid gas meters for its household consumers mainly in Dhaka city with the financial support of the Japanese donor agency JICA. Its prepaid meters were installed mainly in Gulshan, Banani, Mohammadpur, Paltan, Ramna, New Market, Khilgaon and Segunbagicha areas. Titas Gas currently supplies gas to over 2.878 million consumers, including some 2.853 million household consumers, 12,078 commercial consumers, 5,429 industrial consumers, 1,755 captive power plants, and 396 CNG stations. As per the official statistics, Titas Gas alone holds 55% of the gas market share, while the other five companies have 45%. Read more: Electricity bills harassments: Postpaid consumers can turn to prepaid meters Its vast operational area covers Dhaka, Manikganj, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Narsingdi, and Mymensingh. It annually sells about 14,459.41 MMCM (million cubic meters) of gas (2021-23 fiscal years), to earn a revenue of Tk26,387.12 crore.

With 7 percent system loss, the new management of the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company PLC has been facing the biggest challenge in its service delivery. “Some 7 percent system loss means the organisation loses Tk 150-180 crore per month in revenue,” said Shahnewaz Parvez, the new managing director of the Titas Gas PLC. “It means, the state-owned gas distribution entity can save Tk 1800-2160 crore a year if such a huge system loss is checked,” he told UNB. Among the six gas distribution companies, Titas Gas has been the oldest and largest one both in terms of its operational area and volume of natural gas sales. As per the official statistics, the Titas Gas, invented in 1964, alone holds 55 percent of the gas market share while the other five companies have 45 percent. UCB signs MOU with Titas Gas to provide banking solutions Titas Gas supplies gas to over 2.878 million consumers, including some 2.853 million household consumers, 12,078 commercial consumers, 5,429 industrial consumers, 1,755 captive power plants, and 396 CNG stations. Its vast operational area covers Dhaka, Manikganj, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Narsingdi and Mymensingh. It annually sells about 14,459.41 MMCM (million cubic meters) of gas (2021-23 fiscal year), to earn a revenue of TK 26,387.12 crore.           After the fall of the Awami League regime, the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry also brought changes in Titas management as it was one of the ‘most corrupt’ organisations where the previous managing director Harunor Rashid Mollah was appointed on a contractual basis. There have been widespread allegations that Mollah was involved in various corruption schemes who gave a huge financial benefit to former state minister Nasrul Hamid to get his contractual appointment. Titas Gas faces assaults from local lawmakers' supporters when removing illegal gas connections: Titas MD One of the major allegations against the old management was that Mollah did not take adequate actions against the illegal connections which ultimately increased the system loss of Titas Gas from 2 percent in 2021-22 to 7 percent in 2024-25 fiscal years. Upon assuming office as Managing Director, Shahnewaz Parvez, who previously served as the Managing Director of GTCL, another Petrobangla company, took action against illegal gas connections. Within one month, he said, itas Gas had disconnected over 4,000 household connections and more than 90 industrial connections, primarily in Keraniganj, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Rupganj. Official sources said Keraniganj was the parliamentary constituency of former state minister for power and energy Nasrul Hamid where the most illegal connections were found. Titas Gas officials said the mainly politically influential persons, especially the local MPs of the ruling party, were the main promoters of the illegal gas connections. As a result, on many occasions, the Titas Gas officials came under attacks from the ruling party men when they conducted operations against the illegal gas connections at different areas. Shahnewaz said Titas Gas has to lose revenue of over Tk 5 crore a day due to illegal gas connections. “So, it’s now our top priority to disconnect all illegal connections and remove the illegal gas pipelines,” he said, adding, if illegal connections are snapped it will play a good role to improve gas supply to many areas. Petrobangla, Titas dismiss news on new gas connections as “baseless rumor”

With the rising cost of gas cylinders in Bangladesh, every bit of gas you save counts. Learning to save gas while cooking at home helps you save money and contributes to a more sustainable environment. Let’s explore effective tips to save cooking gas in rural and urban home kitchens. Ways to Save Gas While Cooking in Home Kitchens Cook with a Lid On Cooking with a lid on your pots and pans is a simple yet highly effective way to conserve gas. The lid traps heat inside the cookware, allowing food to cook more quickly and evenly. Without a lid, much of the heat escapes into the air, leading to longer cooking times and increased gas consumption.  By consistently covering your pots and pans, you can significantly reduce the amount of gas required for cooking. This small adjustment saves energy and speeds up meal preparation, making your kitchen more efficient. Read more: Fridge Smells Bad? Reasons and How to Get Rid of It Opt for Smaller Burners Choosing the right burner size for your cookware is crucial for efficient gas usage. When cooking with a small pot or pan, it is best to use a smaller burner. A large burner under a small pot wastes gas because the flame extends beyond the cookware, releasing heat into the air instead of focusing it on the pot.  Matching the burner size to the cookware ensures that all the heat is directed where it is needed which reduces cooking time and gas consumption. This simple habit can make a noticeable difference in your gas usage. Batch Cooking Batch cooking is a strategic way to save gas by preparing multiple meals at once. Instead of cooking individual meals throughout the week, you can cook larger quantities in one go, using the gas stove for a shorter overall time.  Read more: 10 Tasty Bangladeshi Recipes with Flu-fighting Nutrients Once cooked, these meals can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer and reheated later, which requires far less gas than cooking from scratch. This approach saves gas also time and effort during busy weekdays. By planning and preparing meals in batches, you can optimise gas usage and enjoy ready-to-eat meals. Soak Grains and Pulses Soaking grains, pulses, and beans before cooking is an excellent method to reduce cooking time and save gas. When these ingredients are soaked, they absorb water and soften, which significantly shortens the time needed to cook them.  For instance, soaked lentils can cook in a fraction of the time compared to unsoaked ones, meaning you will use much less gas. Additionally, soaking helps to break down complex carbohydrates, making the food easier to digest. Incorporating this simple step into your cooking routine can lead to both energy savings and improved meal quality. Read more: 10 Tasty Ilish Recipes for Bangladeshi Kitchen Use Flat-bottomed Cookware Flat-bottomed cookware is essential for efficient cooking and gas conservation. Pots and pans with a flat base make better contact with the stove, allowing for even heat distribution across the entire surface. This reduces cooking time and ensures that the heat is used effectively, rather than being wasted.  In contrast, warped or uneven cookware can result in uneven cooking and longer cooking times, leading to unnecessary gas consumption. Investing in good quality, flat-bottomed cookware can improve your kitchen’s efficiency, helping you save both time and gas while preparing meals. Keep Burners Clean Maintaining clean burners is key to ensuring your gas stove operates efficiently. Over time, food spills, grease, and debris can clog the burner openings, leading to uneven gas flow and a weaker flame. This inefficiency not only makes cooking slower but also increases gas consumption.  Read more: 10 Easy Snack Ideas to Stay Energized During Office Hours Regularly cleaning your burners helps maintain a steady, strong flame, which allows for faster and more efficient cooking. A well-maintained stove saves gas and extends the life of your appliance. This makes it a worthwhile habit to adopt for both energy savings and kitchen safety. Simmer, Don’t Boil Vigorously After bringing food to a boil, reducing the heat to a simmer can significantly cut down on gas usage. Many people mistakenly believe that boiling food vigorously cooks it faster, but in reality, it only wastes gas.  Simmering, which involves cooking at a lower, steady heat, is just as effective and far more efficient. Once your food reaches the boiling point, lowering the flame and allowing it to cook gently will ensure that you are not using more gas than necessary. This method saves energy and often results in better-tasting food. Read more: How to Safely Enjoy Street Food in Bangladesh Turn Off the Gas Early Turning off the gas a few minutes before your food is fully cooked is an effective way to conserve energy. The residual heat in the pot or pan continues to cook the food even after the gas is turned off, meaning you can save gas without compromising the quality of your meal.  This technique works particularly well for dishes like rice, pasta, and vegetables, which can finish cooking in the retained heat. By adopting this practice, you can gradually reduce your gas usage and make your cooking routine more efficient. Plan Your Meals Meal planning is an excellent strategy for optimising gas usage in the kitchen. By planning your meals, you can prepare dishes that require similar cooking times or temperatures, reducing the need to keep the stove on for extended periods.  Read more: Induction Cooker price in Bangladesh with Buying Tips For example, you might cook multiple items simultaneously or use the residual heat from one dish to start another. Additionally, planning helps you avoid last-minute cooking, which can lead to inefficient use of gas. A well-organised meal plan saves energy as well as makes your cooking process more streamlined and stress-free. Use the Right Size of Cookware Using cookware that matches the size of your burner is crucial for efficient gas consumption. A small pot on a large burner results in wasted gas, as the excess flame spills out around the pot instead of heating it directly.  Conversely, using a large pot on a small burner can lead to longer cooking times, as the heat is insufficient to cook the food efficiently. To maximise gas efficiency, always choose cookware that corresponds to the size of the burner. This simple adjustment ensures that the heat is focused where it is needed, reducing gas usage and cooking time. Read more: Deep Fryer price in Bangladesh with Buying Tips Gas Stove Maintenance Regular maintenance of your gas stove is essential for optimal performance and preventing gas leaks, which can be both wasteful and dangerous. Over time, burners can become clogged, and gas lines can develop leaks, leading to inefficient cooking and potential safety hazards.  By scheduling regular check-ups and cleaning for your stove, you ensure that it functions correctly and uses gas efficiently. This saves energy and extends the lifespan of your appliance. Proper maintenance is a small investment that pays off in reduced gas bills and a safer kitchen environment. Explore Alternatives: Pressure Cooker and Other Methods Exploring alternative cooking methods can further reduce your reliance on gas. Using a pressure cooker is one of the most efficient ways to save gas in the kitchen. Pressure cookers work by trapping steam inside, which increases the pressure and temperature, allowing food to cook faster. Whether you are preparing rice, lentils, or meat, a pressure cooker can cut cooking times by half or more. Moreover, pressure cooking retains more nutrients in the food, making it a healthier option. For frequent cooking, opting for a pressure cooker can lead to substantial gas savings. Read more: Microwave Oven price in Bangladesh with Buying Tips You can also use an induction cooker, electric stove, solar cooker, or microwave to complement your gas stove, especially on sunny days or when cooking smaller meals.  Using these electric cooking appliances, you can use much less gas compared to traditional cooking methods. While the initial investment might seem significant, the long-term savings on gas can make it worthwhile. Additionally, these alternatives often have faster cooking times and can be more energy-efficient for certain tasks. By diversifying your cooking methods, you can reduce your overall gas consumption, lower your utility bills, and contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle. Final Words Saving gas while cooking at home is not just about cutting costs but also about adopting smarter cooking practices that benefit your household and the environment. By implementing these simple tips, you can make your cooking process more efficient, reduce your gas consumption, and contribute to a greener world. Start making these changes today, and enjoy the benefits of more economical and eco-friendly cooking. Read more: Microwave Cooking: 7 Healthy Chicken Breast Recipes

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.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is used for cooking in many urban and rural households in Bangladesh. Gas cylinder safety is paramount in every household. Neglecting safety measures can lead to catastrophic consequences including death and burn injuries. Understanding the importance of proper gas cylinder handling and storage is crucial in preventing accidents. Let’s delve into essential safety measures to prevent LPG cylinder-related accidents. How to Use LPG Gas Cylinder Safely at Home  Proper Storage of Gas Cylinders When storing gas cylinders, it is crucial to keep them upright in a well-ventilated space, away from direct sunlight and other sources of heat. This helps prevent the risk of overheating or ignition.  Additionally, one should ensure that the cylinders are securely positioned to avoid any accidental tipping, which could lead to leaks or damage. Proper storage practices are essential for maintaining the integrity and safety of gas cylinders in the home.  Read more: Why Fire Safety Audit is Essential for Commercial Buildings Purchase from an Authorised Distributor When purchasing LPG cylinders, it is crucial to buy from authorised distributors to ensure quality and safety.  Before placing an order, it is advisable to verify the agency's authorisation status online. This step helps consumers ensure that they are purchasing genuine and certified cylinders from trusted sources, enhancing safety standards in their homes.  Regular Maintenance Checks Regular maintenance checks are vital for ensuring the safety of gas cylinders at home. Certified technicians should conduct periodic inspections to identify any leaks or signs of damage.  Prompt detection of issues allows for timely repairs or replacement of faulty cylinders and reduces the risk of accidents. By prioritising regular maintenance, households can minimise the chances of gas leaks or cylinder malfunctions, thus safeguarding the well-being of occupants and property. Read more: Fire Safety Tips for Parents to Keep Children Safe Safe Handling Practices Safe handling practices are paramount when dealing with gas cylinders. It is essential to handle them with care, avoiding rough treatment or dropping that could lead to damage or leaks. When transporting cylinders, use appropriate equipment to ensure stability and minimise the risk of accidents.  Also, avoid dragging cylinders across the floor, as this could cause abrasions or compromise their integrity. By adhering to safe handling practices, individuals can mitigate potential hazards.  Ensuring Adequate Ventilation Ensuring adequate ventilation is essential, particularly in confined areas where gas cylinders are stored or used. Proper airflow plays a vital role in dispersing any leaked gas, preventing its accumulation, and reducing the risk of ignition.  By maintaining sufficient ventilation, households can enhance safety levels and minimise the likelihood of hazardous situations arising from gas leaks. Prioritising ventilation measures are integral to creating a safer environment when dealing with gas cylinders at home.  Read more: Fire Safety in Apartments: Causes and Prevention Checking for Leaks Before using a gas cylinder, it is essential to conduct a leak test to ensure safety. A simple method is to apply a solution of soapy water to the cylinder valve and connections. If bubbles form, it indicates a leak.  In such cases, the cylinder should not be used until the leak is rectified by a qualified technician. Regularly checking for leaks helps prevent potential hazards and ensures the safe use of gas cylinders in households.  Proper Installation of Gas Appliances Proper installation of gas appliances is crucial for safety. It is recommended to hire certified technicians to install gas appliances, adhering to manufacturer guidelines. Improper installation may result in gas leaks or malfunctions, posing significant risks to occupants.  Certified technicians have the expertise to ensure correct installation, reducing the likelihood of hazards. By prioritising professional installation, households can enhance safety levels in their homes.  Read more: Workplace Fire Safety: 12 Effective Ways to Prevent Fire Hazards Emergency Procedures In the event of a gas leak, swift action is essential for safety. Firstly, turn off the cylinder valve to stop the gas flow. Next, open windows and doors to ventilate the area, helping to disperse the gas. It is significant to evacuate the premises immediately and move to a safe location outdoors.  If the situation escalates or there is a risk of fire or explosion, contact emergency services without delay for professional assistance. Prioritising quick and decisive action can prevent potential accidents and protect lives.  Educating Family Members Ensuring that all family members are well-informed about gas cylinder safety is paramount. Children, in particular, should be educated on the importance of not meddling with gas appliances and being able to identify the signs of a gas leak.  By instilling this knowledge, households can empower everyone to recognise potential hazards and take appropriate action, thereby fostering a safer environment for all occupants. Education plays a crucial role in preventing accidents and promoting responsible behaviour when dealing with gas cylinders at home.  Read more: Car Fire Safety: Common Causes and Immediate Things to Do Importance of Professional Assistance Seeking professional assistance for gas-related tasks is crucial to upholding safety standards and regulatory compliance. Certified technicians possess the expertise and training to handle installations, repairs, and maintenance of gas appliances and cylinders.  Entrusting these tasks to professionals minimises the risk of errors or safety hazards, ensuring the well-being of occupants. By adhering to professional standards, households can maintain the integrity of their gas systems and mitigate the potential for accidents or incidents arising from improper handling or maintenance.  Safety Tips for Cooking with Gas When using gas stoves for cooking, prioritise kitchen ventilation to disperse any gas fumes effectively. Never leave the stove unattended while cooking to prevent potential accidents.  Additionally, avoid wearing loose clothing that could easily catch fire, and ensure that flammable objects are kept at a safe distance from the stove.  Read more: School Fire Hazard Safety: Essential preventive measures to minimise risk Final Words In numerous households in Bangladesh, LPG cylinder is used for cooking. Therefore, the safety issue of LPG cylinders is non-negotiable. By following these precautions and guidelines while using gas cylinders, households can minimise the risk of fire hazards and ensure safer cooking environments.

Prime Minister’s Energy Advisor Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury has said that the international bidding for offshore oil and gas exploration will draw a huge response. “This round, we have introduced some new aspects like linking gas price with Brent and per year cost recovery at highest 75 percent to make the bidding more attractive,” he told reporters at a press conference at Petrobangla headquarters in Dhaka on Monday. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division organised the press conference to brief about the “Oil and Natural Gas Exploration Under Bangladesh Offshore Bidding Round 2024”, for which Petrobangla invited international oil and gas companies (IOCs). Intensify efforts to scale up renewable energy technology: Energy Advisor State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, Energy Secretary Md Nurul Alam and Petrobangla chairman Zanendra Nath Sarker also addressed the event. The tender notice was published in local newspapers and websites of concerned government entities including Bangladeshi missions abroad on Sunday giving six months’ time until September 9, 2024 for submission of the bids. As per the floated tender, a total of 24 offshore blocks — of which nine are shallow blocks — and 15 deep sea blocks are available for the bidding round. The nine shallow sea blocks are SS-01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 07, 08, 10 and 11) and 15 deep sea blocks are DS-08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22. Gov wants AIIB to invest more in energy, power sectors: Nasrul The bidder, singly or in association with other companies, can bid for one or more blocks. Contracts will be signed with the successful bidders in line with the Bangladesh Offshore Model Production Sharing Contract 2023, said the tender. Tawfiq Elahi Chowdhury informed that so far, the bidding invitation was sent to 55 IOCs who have contacted the government as potential bidders. He, however, averted a question on the geopolitics that might appear to be a factor in the participation of the IOCs in the bidding round. Nasrul Hamid said it’s an open bidding and any company eligible can bid for any block. He said a pre-bid meeting will be arranged after Ramadan for the interested bidders. Read more: Petrobangla invites offshore bidding for oil, gas exploration

Petrobangla, the oil, gas and mineral corporation, has floated the offshore bidding, inviting international oil and gas companies to explore in the Bangladesh maritime area in the Bay of Bengal The tender, named “Oil and Natural Gas Exploration Under Bangladesh Offshore Bidding Round 2024”, was published in local newspapers and websites of concerned government entities including Bangladeshi missions abroad on Sunday giving six months time until September 9, 2024 for submission of the bids. As per the floated tender, a total of 24 offshore blocks — of which nine are shallow blocks — and 15 deep sea blocks are available for the bidding round.  The nine shallow sea blocks are SS-01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 07, 08, 10 and 11) and 15 deep sea blocks are DS-08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22. The bidder, singly or in association with other companies, can bid for one or more blocks.  Contracts will be signed with the successful bidders in line with the Bangladesh Offshore Model Production Sharing Contract 2023, said the tender.  Read more Cabinet body approves draft contract to invite int’l bidding for offshore gas exploration The features of the proposed contract include full repatriation of profit, no signature bonus or royalty, uncapped attractive gas price linked with international marker, oil price to be determined on the basis of the fair market value prevailing in South and Southeast Asia. It entails no duty for equipment and machinery imported for petroleum operations while contractor's corporate income tax liability will be borne by Petrobangla, and bank guarantee for performance of the minimum exploration program. There will be provision for assignment of interest and share-transfer and 100 percent cost recovery with a yearly cap of 75 percent.  The contractor must have a mandatory work program consisting of 2D seismic survey and mandatory purchase of available 2D multi-client seismic data against bidded blocks to get relief from mandatory work obligations proportionately. They will have minimum work obligation in each of the exploration periods while biddable work program commitment over and above the mandatory program. There will be petroleum profit sharing on the basis of R-factor with biddable upper and lower limits and option to sell contractor's share of natural gas in the domestic market to a third party, at a negotiated price, subject to Petrobangla's right of first refusal. Read more: New PSC: Petrobangla awaits final nods to invite int’l bidding for offshore blocks The bidder must ensure carried stake of 10 percent for state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) for both shallow and deep sea blocks.  The bidders’ qualification criteria include — individual or in case of joint venture at least one member — offshore daily production of at least 15,000 barrel of oil or 150 mmsc of gas. Bidders must have at least one global experience (other than home country) in the oil and gas exploration and production. The Information Package will be available at a cost of US$ 300 or equivalent Bangladeshi taka to the interested bidders/companies. To enable companies to assess the geological prospects of the blocks on offer, Promotional and Data Packages are available on payment basis. Promotional Packages contain Bidding Document, sample seismic sections, gravity, magnetic, geological maps. Companies are required to purchase the Promotional Package in order to qualify for bidding, said the tender.  The purchase price of the Promotional Package is US$ 10,000 or equivalent Bangladeshi taka. Purchase of Data Sales Package is optional. Several Data Sales Packages are available at different prices.  Companies interested in bidding and purchase of Promotional and Data Sales Packages may contact the Director, Production Sharing Contract, Bangladesh Oil, Gas & Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) Petrocentre, 3 Karan Bazar, Dhaka-1215, said the bidding tender.  Read more: Action against officials of Petrobangla companies if fail to achieve target: Nasrul