Most domestic consumers yet to get gas due to low pressure in the pipeline; authorities say problem will be fixed soon

Bangladesh is going through the worst gas supply shortfall in recent history

Gas supply to Chattogram city remains halted for more than 24 hours from Thursday night due to a technical glitch at a floating LNG terminal in Moheshkhali of Cox’s Bazar, causing profound suffering to the residents, businesses and industries.

Currently, the gas supply stands at approximately 2,500 million standard cubic feet per day (mmcfd), falling short of the demand, which is at 3,800 mmcfd.

The gas supply now is the lowest since April 2020, shows data from Petrobangla -- in a development that informs the acute crisis plaguing the industrial sector as well as households.

Over the last couple of weeks, power cuts have become a pretty regular event.

Delta Agro Food Industries, a joint venture of Seacom Group and Samuda Group, has set up a factory in Narayanganj at an investment of more than Tk 1,200 crore one and a half years ago. 

The output at the country’s steel and cement factories has fallen almost by a third due to the power and gas crisis, a hike in raw material prices in the global market, and the US dollar shortage, manufacturers said yesterday. 

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Titas Gas Distribution Company Ltd has started disconnecting gas supply to households and industries in the capital due to unpaid bills of around Tk 1,500 crore.

Consumers in southern part of Dhaka city and adjoining areas, and Narayanganj and Munshiganj may experience disruption or low pressure in gas supply for a week - from tomorrow (November 6) to November 12 - due to technical work in the gas transmission line.

Textile mill owners yesterday said they were willing to shell out 40 percent more for gas if the supply was uninterrupted. Supply disruptions were costing the industry crores of taka, they said.

The acute gas crisis, which has been plaguing the industrial sector and households, is unlikely to see a drastic improvement anytime soon.

Textile millers across the greater Gazipur, Sreepur and Bhaluka industrial belt yesterday urged the state minister for energy, power and mineral resources to put an end to their perennial gas crisis, which is currently preventing them from continuing smooth production.

There will be no fertiliser crisis in Bangladesh, even if the country faces shortage of gas, the key raw material for producing fertiliser, said Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (Berc) will announce the new gas tariff at the consumer level tomorrow (June 5, 2022).

After four days of disruption, the Chevron-operated Bibiyana gas field resumed full production from this morning – which is likely to end the gas crisis in parts of Bangladesh.

CNG filling stations across the country will remain closed from 5pm to 11pm every day during the month of Ramadan, instead of 6pm-11:00pm, according to a press release of Petrobangla.

Gas supply to the certain parts of Dhaka’s Uttara, Baridhara DOHS and Joarshahra areas will remain shut for nine hours till 3:00pm today due to maintenance work.

Another spell of gas crisis is likely to be due from Tuesday evening for parts of Dhaka city due to the ongoing construction of metro rail.