Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hassan Mahmood on Sunday told Parliament that Bangladesh currently has an estimated 7.63 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas remaining in its reserves which could meet the country’s demand for around 12 years at the present consumption rate.

Of the total reserve, 22.11 TCF of gas has already been extracted as of December 31, 2025, while 7.63 TCF remained in reserve as of January 1, 2026, he said in reply to a starred tabled question from ruling party lawmaker elected from Bogura-4 Md. Mosharraf Hossain in the House.

The Minister said the country currently has an estimated extractable natural gas reserve of 29.74 trillion cubic feet (TCF).

He said that if no new gas fields are discovered and the current daily supply rate approximately 1,700 million cubic feet is maintained, the remaining gas reserve will be sufficient to meet the country’s demand for around 12 years.

Listing various steps, the Minister said the government has undertaken a number of initiatives to explore new gas resources across the country.

Under Petrobangla’s drilling and workover programme, a total of 50 and 100 wells have been planned in phases, he said.

So far, 26 wells have been drilled and workover activities completed, while work on the remaining wells is progressing, he added.

In terms of seismic surveys, BAPEX has already conducted approximately 3,600 line kilometers of 2D seismic data acquisition in Blocks 7 and 9 and data processing is currently underway.

Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited (BGFCL) is set to begin 3D seismic surveys covering an area of 1,450 square kilometers in Habiganj, Bakhrabad, and Meghna fields.

Besides, plans have been taken to conduct 3D seismic surveys in several other areas including: 660 sq km in Char Fasson (Bhola) by BAPEX; 650 sq km in Jamalpur by BAPEX; 632 sq km in Titas, Habiganj, and Narsingdi areas by BGFCL; 882 sq km in Lamigao, Lalabazar, Gowainghat, Kailashtila South, and Fenchuganj West structures by SGFL.