Gas crisis may increase in winter
The country is facing a gas crisis due to limited supply against growing demand. Due to lack of gas supply, gas-based power plants are producing less than half of their capacity. Production in industrial areas cannot be continued at full capacity. Gas supply to residential customers is regularly interrupted in various areas including the capital. In such a situation, winter is coming. During this period, the demand for gas increased on the one hand and the crisis also increased due to technical reasons.
In this case, the temporary solution to the crisis is to increase the supply by importing LNG. However, due to the financial crisis, LNG imports are also facing major challenges. But if LNG imports are not continued, the gas crisis may become more pronounced next winter.
Petrobangla says it plans to import 11 more cargoes of LNG till next December. A total of 105 cargoes of LNG will be imported till December 2025. However, to import this amount of LNG, the government will have to pay a subsidy of about 16 thousand crore rupees.
Talking to several government agencies and company officials related to gas production, import and supply, it is known that there is a plan to import LNG from abroad along with domestic gas production till December. But that is to ensure average gas supply. It will not be possible to fully meet the gas demand in the country through this import.
According to Petrobangla sources, the country currently has a daily demand of at least 4,000 million cubic feet of gas. In contrast to this, 2900 million cubic feet of gas is being supplied daily from the country’s gas fields combined with imported LNG. As a result, there is a shortage of about 1100 million cubic feet of gas per day. When winter comes, the demand for gas will increase. So if the supply is not increased, the deficit will increase.
Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company (Titas) supplies gas to one of the most important and largest areas in the country. An official of Titus, who did not want to be named, told our time that complaints such as ‘not getting gas’ and ‘gas shortage’ are endless. Every day some or the other
People are complaining of not getting gas from the area. Such complaints are also coming from some industrial areas. But the fact is, Titus has nothing to do in this case. Titas will not be able to supply gas without supply from Petrobangla. If the supply of gas from Petrobangla increases, Titus will also be able to increase its supply.
According to information given on Petrobangla’s website, 2864 million cubic feet of gas was supplied yesterday on Sunday. Among these domestic sources are 530 million cubic feet of gas from gas fields under Bangladesh Gas Field, 128 million cubic feet from gas fields under Sylhet Gas Field, 118 million cubic feet of gas from gas fields under BAPEX and 1186 million from gas fields extracted through international oil and gas companies. cubic feet of gas supplied. Among international companies, Chevron has supplied gas from the Jalalabad, Bibiana, and Moulvibazar gas fields. Besides, gas has been supplied from Tallu gas field. Meanwhile, Transformed Natural Gas Company (RPGCL) imported and supplied 900 million cubic feet of LNG.
When asked about the preparation of gas supply in the coming winter, Director (Operations) of Petrobangla said. Kamruzzaman told our time that there is a gas crisis mainly due to the difference between demand and supply. And the demand for gas is always high in winter. Gas consumption increases. As a result, the crisis seems more pronounced in winter. He said that the government’s plan is to ensure the supply of gas by importing 11 more cargoes of LNG from abroad till next December along with domestic gas supply. But even that may not be enough according to demand. He said, I hope that this time will not be an exception as the supply of gas in winter is the same as other times.
Shahnewaz Parvez, managing director of Titus, said that there may be a shortage of gas this winter as well. If we cannot ensure adequate LNG import and supply, there will be a gas crisis. We have spoken to Petrobangla. We have informed about our needs. I hope to talk to the government from Petrobangla to ensure the import or supply of required gas.
According to related sources, the advisor of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has given principle approval for the purchase of 16 cargoes of LNG from the spot market for the period of September to December 2024 for the uninterrupted supply of gas to power, captive power, industrial, fertilizer and commercial sectors. It also planned to purchase 5 cargoes of LNG from the spot market in October. Quotations are invited for international purchases on an overall basis. However, as the required number of firms did not submit quotations, the procuring authority rejected the quotations. Later, the proposal for the purchase of one cargo LNG supply was sent for presentation to the Advisory Council Committee on Government Procurement by inviting re-quotation. The government is planning to import 11 cargoes of LNG till next December, if it is possible, the crisis will reduce a lot.
Meanwhile, it has been found that there is a shortage of gas in the industrial areas as always. There is no sudden supply to residential customers.
Meanwhile, Petrobangla Chairman Janendranath Sarkar said that the normal supply of gas is guaranteed till December 2025. At least 105 cargoes of LNG have to be imported to achieve this. Petrobangla has calculated that the government will have to give a subsidy of at least 16 thousand crore rupees. He said, if the supply of money is confirmed, Petrobangla can ensure supply by importing gas. However, Petrobangla owes a huge amount of money to the Bangladesh Power Development Board, which is not being paid on time. The official said, if those to whom Petrobangla supplies gas regularly pay their gas bills, then Petrobangla can ensure the supply of gas by importing it. In a recent discussion, he told reporters that Petrobangla’s gas bill is about Tk 30,000 crore due to private customers.
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Credit: Dainikamadersomoy
