A technical fault at the Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Maheshkhali has significantly reduced gas supply to the national grid, worsening the gas shortage across the country. The disruption has affected residential, commercial, and industrial consumers, including those in the capital, Dhaka.
In a notice issued on Tuesday, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited said that due to the technical fault at the Maheshkhali LNG terminal, the national grid is receiving approximately 450 million cubic feet (MMcf) less gas per day. The company warned that gas pressure for all categories of consumers within its service area will remain low until the situation returns to normal.
According to field reports, many residential areas are experiencing little or no gas supply for most of the day, leaving households unable to use their gas stoves. In some areas, gas is completely unavailable. Many factories in industrial zones are also facing insufficient gas pressure, forcing them to scale back production. The situation has raised concerns over potential adverse impacts on export-oriented industries.
Bangladesh’s daily gas demand currently stands at around 3.8 billion cubic feet (Bcf). Even under normal conditions, the national grid receives only about 2.7 billion cubic feet per day, leaving a daily shortfall of approximately 1 billion cubic feet. Of the total supply, around 1.65 billion cubic feet comes from domestic gas fields, while imported LNG contributes approximately 950 million to 1 billion cubic feet per day. With LNG supply now reduced by about 450 million cubic feet per day, the overall gas deficit has widened significantly.
The two floating LNG terminals at Maheshkhali have a combined maximum regasification capacity of around 1.1 billion cubic feet of gas per day. Under normal operating conditions, they supply approximately 950 million to 1 billion cubic feet of gas daily to the national grid. However, due to the ongoing technical fault, gas supply from the terminals has now fallen to nearly half of its usual level.