The government has announced a series of short-, medium-, and long-term initiatives to strengthen Bangladesh’s energy supply security following the temporary shutdown of gas supply from one of the country’s Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs) due to a technical fault.
Speaking at an emergency press briefing on Wednesday, Joint Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, Monir Hossain Chowdhury, said the technical problem at the FSRU has temporarily halted gas supply from the terminal to the national gas grid, reducing daily gas supply by approximately 450 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD).
According to the briefing, the reduced gas supply has affected industries, power plants, CNG filling stations, and other consumers across different parts of the country. In some areas, low gas pressure has prevented CNG stations from receiving sufficient gas, resulting in long queues and temporary public inconvenience.
Officials said engineers and technical experts are working on the highest priority to resolve the FSRU’s technical problem and restore normal gas supply as quickly as possible. At the same time, efforts are underway to manage the limited gas supply efficiently so that priority sectors continue to receive uninterrupted service.
Monir Hossain Chowdhury said that although the immediate cause of the current crisis is the technical failure of the FSRU, the country’s long-standing dependence on imported LNG has intensified the impact. He noted that insufficient emphasis on domestic gas exploration and production over the years has significantly increased reliance on imported LNG. Consequently, any disruption to import infrastructure places considerable pressure on the national gas supply system.
To gradually reduce import dependence and increase domestic gas production, the government has undertaken a range of initiatives, including a plan to drill 100 gas wells in phases.
The press conference also noted that the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), at its meeting on Wednesday, approved a Tk 729 crore project to drill three gas wells in Begumganj and Sunamganj.
The government has also undertaken several additional measures to meet current and future energy demand and enhance the country’s energy security. These include:
Initiating the tender process for the installation of a fourth FSRU.
Assessing the feasibility of importing LNG from Malaysia using ISO tanks and undertaking the necessary procedures.
Reviewing pipeline and other transportation options to bring Bhola’s natural gas to the mainland while also meeting local demand.
Accelerating the drilling of new domestic gas wells, carrying out workover operations on existing wells, and increasing gas production.
Diversifying both the sources of energy imports and the country’s energy supply infrastructure.
Monir Hossain Chowdhury said the government is closely monitoring the national gas supply situation and expects conditions to improve once the technical issue at the FSRU is resolved.
The Energy and Mineral Resources Division also expressed its sincere regret to consumers and the general public for the temporary inconvenience caused by the disruption.