In a joint statement on Monday, the committee’s convenor engineer Muhammad Shahidullah and member secretary Prof Anu Mohammad said the government has to take initiative to realise compensation from Chevron for the Magurchhara blowout as the company subsequently took up the gas field’s operation from its predecessor Unical accepting all liabilities and responsibilities. 

They said a devastating blowout took place at Magurchhra gas field at Surma basin located at block 14 on June 14, 1997 under the operation of the IUS oil company Occidental damaging about 550 billion cubic feet (bcf) gas resources of the field. But a government committee ascertained a conservative amount of 245 bcf.        

But Occidental left the country selling out its all assets to US oil company Unical without giving any compensation. Unical again sold out the resources of block 14 to Chevron.

The National Committee leaders said if the loss of resources in Magurchhara gas field is calculated considering the current price of energy, the value will be Tk 45,000 crore. 

“But no government, including previous BNP and current Awami League took any step to realise compensation. Rather they gave incentives to Chevron,” they said.

Also read: 22 years of Magurchara tragedy: Quest for compensation still falters

The committee said the government claimed an undervalued compensation from Canadian company Niko Resources for the blowout at the Tengratila gas field.

They urged the government to include the losses in other areas like environment, health and livelihood caused by the Tengratila blowout.

Also read: Tangratila Blowout: Bangladesh wins case against Niko