Energy Bangla

The government is considering exploring oil and gas in onshore and offshore blocks without any tender a top official said.
“We are considering exploring oil and gas in onshore and offshore blocks on unsolicited offers under the Power and Energy Fast Supply Enhancement (Special Provision) Act,” newly appointed Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Nazimuddin Chowdhury told.
He said they are assessing the ways to explore oil and gas without any tender to increase natural gas supply in a fast-track mode.
However, Petrobangla officials said they are yet to receive any directive in this regard. But the plan has already been discussed to explore oil and gas in the onshore and offshore blocks.
Former special assistant to a caretaker government Prof M Tamim said undertaking any oil and gas exploration projects under unsolicited deals might raise questions in future.
He also said the government has adopted the Power and Energy Fast Supply Enhancement Act for small-scale and emergency projects. “But the government is now undertaking major oil and gas exploration projects under the act.”
“I am not in favour in such projects as those might encourage corruption and push the country in a great trouble in future,” Prof M Tamim observed.
Besides, Bapex is also working to explore four wells in Chittagong Hill Tracts under joint-venture initiatives. “We are evaluating the proposals of four international firms, including an American and four Chinese firms,” he said.
Bangladesh has some 22 onshore and 26 offshore gas blocks.
Of the offshore blocks, the Petrobangla has awarded work-orders to three firms for exploring gas in only five blocks under the Offshore Bidding Round-2012.
Besides, international oil and gas companies like Chevron and Tullow are operating four gas fields here while state-owned Bapex has been working on the rest of the fields.
The government is still settling its long-standing disputes with Niko Resources Ltd, affecting its efforts to develop the country’s major gas field in Chatak.
Meanwhile, the government is likely to increase gas tariff for Norwegian company Statoil in three deep sea blocks by revising the Model Production Sharing Contract-2012.
US company ConocoPhillips discontinued it joint venture with Statoil last year. The company also relinquished deep sea blocks 10 and 11 on October 25, 2014, three and a half years after signing of contracts.
Petrobangla signed the two contracts with ConocoPhillips on June 16, 2011 for oil and gas exploration in the two blocks under the Model PSC 2008.