Titas Gas
Gas supply to remain off at these areas in Narayanganj, Dhaka and Munshiganj districts tomorrow
Gas supply will remain suspended in many areas of Narayanganj, and parts of Dhaka and Munshiganj districts for 16 hours — from 8 am on Monday (March 04, 2024) to 12 am — for emergency gas pipeline repair work.
Gas outage for 8 hours in parts of capital city Saturday
A public notice from Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited said the areas where gas supply will remain off include Godnail, Enayetnagar, Bau Bazar, Lucky Bazar, Hajiganj, Wabdapul, Qayyumpur, Fatulla, Sistabpur, Jail Khana Road, Post Office Road from Hajiganj junction to Shibu Market, Panchbati, Maizdair, Izdair, Chashara, Khanpur, Killarpool, Talla, Kutubail, Dharmaganj, Takkarmath, Pagla, Chitashal, Delpara, Jalkuri, Nayamati, Dapa Idrakpur, Bhuigarh, Qutubpur Union, Dhaka Match, Senpur, Moktarpur, Narayanganj BSCIC Area, Kashipur Union to Moktarpur via Panchabati area, Shimgaon, Siddhirganj, Adamji, Sahebpara, Mizmiji to Chittagong Road, and Siddhirganj.
The adjoining areas under Fatulla Police Station, Munshiganj and Narayanganj city may experience disruption or low pressure in gas supply, said Titas, regretting temporary inconveniences during the period.
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Industries in Dhaka, Gazipur, N'ganj still reeling from acute gas crisis despite Titas claims of improvement
Industries in Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj continue to be afflicted by an acute gas crisis, even though Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, the state-owned distributor of natural gas, claims the situation has improved.
As reported in the media previously, garments and textiles firms in the industrial belt of these central districts have been suffering from an acute gas crisis for the last few months.
“The factories are in dire straits,” a top top-level manager of a group of textile factories in Gazipur told UNB.
Most of the industries in Gazipur do not get adequate supply of gas during their operational periods, the most crucial hours during which their machines need to be running. Inadequate supply manifests in the form of low pressure gas flow, he added.
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Low pressure gas flow is akin to low voltage electricity - many appliances won't run, even though an electric charge is present.
The textiles group official said that due to the lack of gas supply, production in various factories is being disrupted and they are on the verge of shutting down.
In the ongoing gas crisis, important machines like generators and broilers in the dyeing section of the factories are not being run. This has been posing a great risk for the industries to continue their production and pushing them towards huge financial losses.
“Many industries would not be able to pay the salaries and festival bonuses during the coming Eid if the situation does not improve,” said an industry owner.
Industry insiders said there are more than 300 factories in Kaliakoir and other areas in Gazipur.
All these industries have been suffering from the nagging gas crisis and some of them have already suspended their productions.
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Each of the industries has more than 1000 workers. But following the gas crisis, they have to reduce their production target while some of them use CNG at a higher cost to continue their operations.
A similar situation is prevailing in the Mirpur, Tongi and Narayanganj areas, said Mohammad Hatem, Executive President, of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
He said that despite increasing the price, the government is not able to provide adequate gas.
“Production in garment factories has come down to half due to non-availability of gas. Many buyers meanwhile are pushing for air shipments as the normal schedule for shipments has failed in keeping the commitment,” he said adding, some buyers are asking for discounts on the rates.
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“Some customers are upset and cancel the order in such a situation,” he noted.
Recently the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) has also alleged that no industry in the country is able to run at its full potential due to the gas crisis.
A Bangladesh Chamber Of Industries delegation, led by its president Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), raised the allegation when it met Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun at his ministry office.
The lone chamber for industries said the prices of electricity and gas were increased on the pretext of increasing prices on the international market in the hope that the government would ensure their continuous supply.
“But despite the declining trend of energy prices in the international market, it is being heard that the prices of electricity and gas will be increased again,” BCI said in a statement.
Read more: Govt okays import of LNG cargo from Singaporean firm to meet gas demand
It demands for a sustainable solution to the problem. “If a long term plan is given to the industrial sector in terms of power and gas supply, it can move forward accordingly."
Titas Gas general manager Arpana Islam admitted the gas crisis. But she claimed that the situation has improved to some extent recently following measures to increase the gas supply.
She advised to talk to Petrobangla when asked whether there is any possibility in near future to further improve the gas supply situation.
Petrobangla official statistics reveal that in the last one month the total gas supply across the country has increased by just 100 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) or so, leaving a deficit between production and supply of about 1500 mmcfd.
The Petrobangla data shows that on February 16 it produced 2671 mmcfd gas including its import from abroad against a demand for more than 4000 mmcfd.
The TItas Gas data also shows that about 30 power plants now remained out of operation due to gas shortage.
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Gas shortage hits many areas in capital city
Many areas of the capital city Dhaka city have been hit by a gas shortage causing problems for the consumers.
The situation may worsen in the coming winter as no necessary measure is in sight to address the problem.
According to official sources, the areas which have been severely suffering most due to the crisis include vast area of Mirpur and Mohammadpur, Basabo, old part of city, specially Lalbagh and Chawkbazar, Segunbagicha, Tejgaon, Dhanmondi and Gulshan.
Residents in these areas alleged that they don’t get adequate gas during the day time.
“In most of the time, we have to cook our meal during midnight when gas flow is found to be a little bit better. Otherwise, we need to use LPG as an alternative to piped-gas", said Taslima Begum, a resident in the Green Road area of Dhanmondi.
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“We have to spend a good amount of money for using LPG alongside paying to Titas Gas as consumers of its piped gas”, she told UNB this week.
Halima Aktar, another Titas consumer living in Mohammadpur echoed the same, saying that she has to cook in the might as gas is not available from morning to 10 pm.
An employee of National Press Club noted that in most of the days in day-time the club has to face very low pressure in the gas pipe that disrupts normal cooking.
Similar allegations of no gas supply in day time or low pressure in the gas line are being received from the consumers in different parts of the capital.
Confirming the allegations, Md. Emam Uddin Sheikh, general manager of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited, said that the gas supply situation in Dhaka and adjoining areas is very much part of the country’s overall supply condition.
Read: Gas supply to remain off for 7 hours in parts of capital Thursday
“The country has a shortage of more than 1000 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMCFD) against the overall demand for 4000 MMCFD”, he told UNB.
He informed that Titas Gas, which is responsible for gas supply to Dhaka and adjoining districts, now receives 1400-1500 MMCFD gas against a demand for 1800 MMCFD meaning a shortage of 300-400 MMCFD gas.
However, official data of Petrobangla, the state-owned upstream organisation in the gas sector, shows that the country produces 2663.5 MMCFD gas on Monday including imported LNG (liquefied natural gas) against the demand of 4000 MMCFD.
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It shows that the country is getting 600 MMCFD gas from imported LNG as imports witnessed a fall in recent months from a normal 800-900 MMCFD.
Official sources said the recent dollar crisis has forced Petrobangla to reduce its import of LNG which intensified the crisis in recent days.
Official sources said it is unlikely that Petrobangla would be able to increase the import of LNG or increase the production from local sources within the next few months as there is no assurance of ending the ongoing dollar crisis.
The country’s foreign exchange reserves declined to below $22 billion this year from $48 last year which put Petrobangla in trouble to get adequate dollars to pay its international suppliers against its purchase of LNG from the global market.
The country’s gas industry insiders said that the overall gas supply situation deteriorate in the coming winter with no visible sign of easing the dollar crisis.
Gas supply to stop for 8 hours at different areas in city Saturday
Gas supply will remain suspended for eight hours on Saturday (June 3, 2023) at different areas in the capital city Dhaka for emergency replacement and removal of gas pipelines.
According to a press release of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited, the areas where gas supply will be suspended from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday include the north side of the railway line up to Mogbazar, Mouchak, Malibagh Rail-gate, Nayatola, Gabtala, Greenway, Payarabagh, Madhubagh, and Moghbazar T&T Colony.
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Reheating for the temporary inconvenience, the Titas gas authority said the adjoining areas may experience low pressure problem in gas supply during the period.
Gas supply to remain off for 11 hours in parts of Dhaka Wednesday
Gas supply will remain suspended for 11 hours from 1 pm to 12 am (mid night) in different areas of Dhaka on Wednesday (December 07, 2022).
According to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited, the areas where there will be no gas supply due to emergency works in the pipeline include Tejgaon, Mohakhali, Gulshan, Banani, Natunbazar, Badda, and Khilbaritek.
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The adjoining areas will experience low pressure in gas supply, said Titas Gas regretting the temporary inconvenience of the consumers during the period.
upay signs deal with Titas Gas to facilitate prepaid bill payment
Mobile financial service provider upay has signed an agreement with Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited (TGTDCL) to facilitate prepaid meter bill payment/prepaid card recharge through upay.
Emon Kalyan Dutta, chief sales & service officer, and Md Eaqub Khan, company secretary of TGTDCL signed the agreement recently.
Rezaul Hossain, managing director & CEO of upay, and Md Haronur Rashid Mullah, managing director of TGTDCL were present during the signing ceremony held at the head office of TGTDCL in the city, said a media release on Sunday.
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Syed Abu Nosor Md Saleh, project director, installation of prepaid gas meter for TGTDCL, Mir Mubarak Hossain, manager, installation of prepaid gas meter for TGTDCL, Md Sekander-E- Azam, head of transaction banking, United Commercial Bank Ltd and Shakib Altaf, deputy director, Hasan Mohammad Zahid, assistant director, Mohammad Mockbul Hossain Bhuiyan, DGM, Md Mahfuzur Rahman, account manager of upay, among others, were present at the signing ceremony.
upay, a subsidiary of United Commercial Bank, launched its operation in March 2021.
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Some Dhaka areas to see disruption in gas supplies Thursday
Gas supplies will remain suspended for 12 hours in different areas of the capital from 9am to 9pm Thursday due to works on gas pipeline replacement.
The areas are Hatirpul, Circular Road, Free School Street, Green Road, Kathalbagan, East Rajabazar, West Rajabazar, Shukrabad, and Indira Road, said Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company.
The consumers in the nearby areas may experience low pressure in supply too, it added.
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Titas Gas asked to act against officials who failed to increase customer services
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has directed the Titas Gas authorities to take punitive action against officials responsible for a failure to increase customer services.
He gave the directive on Monday while visiting the headquarters of the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited, the largest state-owned utility responsible for gas supply in Dhaka and adjoining districts.
He said he has been receiving constant complaints from the Titas Gas customers.
“These complaints need to be settled quickly. The Titas Gas officials have to be held accountable to their customers for their services," he added.
The state minister advised the Titas Gas authorities to keep their customers informed about its activities to increase their confidence in the company.
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He also directed the Titas Gas officials to step up the drives against the illegal gas connections.
He mentioned that due to technical reasons and also for the increase in the global price of LNG, the pressure of gas is slightly lower in the Titas Gas area.
While discussing the implementation progress of the existing projects of Titas Gas, the state minister said that schemes have to be taken up keeping in mind the next generation’s better services.
The Titas gas officials informed him that 25 km of illegal gas connections have been removed in November-2021, 24.1 km in December-2021 and 16 km in January-2022 during drives against illegal gas connections.
Titas officials also said that different government entities’ unpaid bills to Titas now stand at Tk 745.22 crore while private consumers’ unpaid bills are Tk 5620.25 crore.
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Nasrul Hamid requested the customers to pay the arrears, saying it was not possible to take up many service-oriented projects if the arrears bills are not realised.
He also instructed the Titas Gas officials to strengthen the drive for installing smart meters to enhance customer service.
ACC lodges graft case against a Titas gas company sales assistant, his wife
The Anti- Corruption Commission ( ACC) on Monday filed a case against an official of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited Syed Ayez Uddin Ahmed and his wife for alleged misappropriation of TK 1 crore 3 lakh.
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The case was filed with Dhaka Coordinated Office,ACC-1 primary investigation found evidence, ACC Deputy Director of ACC Public relation office Muhammad Arif Sadeq told UNB.
According to the case, sales assistant Syed Ayez and his wife Shahana Bilkis submitted their asset statement of TK 1 crore 17 lakh, which is much higher than their known source of income.
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Progress at snail’s pace 2 years after govt opens smart prepaid gas metres to private competition
Two years after the government opened the prepaid gas metre market to the private competition, none has been able to enter the fray due to lack of enough preparation.
The government’s policy, announced in 2019, initially got enthusiastic response.
Many local and foreign companies came forward to enter the lucrative market with import, development, manufacturing, marketing and supply of smart prepaid gas metre for consumers.
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None of these companies has so far succeeded in their ventures.
Officials at the state-owned Petrobangla, responsible for setting the standard and technical specifications for the metres, said they are still hopeful about the arrival of the private sector.
“Already a good number of companies made demonstrations of their metres and those were enthusiastic. We hope they will be able to meet our standard and technical specifications and finally come to the market”, said Habib Uddin Ahmed, general manager (engineering), and head of the technical committee of the Petrobangla.
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He, however, said it takes some time to meet our compliances as the things are new and such ventures involve huge investment.
Many of the companies are studying the market first and then they will either move for importing metres or setting up plants to manufacture locally. So they need time for their preparation, he added.
Sources said local Beximco and Bangladesh Smart Electrical Company Ltd., a joint venture of West Zone Power Distribution company and Chinese firm Hexing Electrical Co. Ltd, are among those showing interest in the business.
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They said the Energy and Mineral Resources Division under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources took up the move for opening smart prepaid metre market for private sector in 2019.
After a long discussion with the stakeholders, it published a gazette notification on December 4 in 2019 setting a detailed standard, technical specifications and compliances for the smart pre-paid metres.
It also invited private companies to come to the market with their own devices by taking approval from the Petrobangla.
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