United News of Bangladesh

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit is optimistic that Bangladesh will achieve significant self-sufficiency in the energy sector within the tenure of the current government. The junior minister spoke to reporters after inaugurating gas supply from the Srikail-5 appraisal and development well to the national grid on Saturday. “Today is a particularly significant day for us. On this holy day of the holy month of Ramadan, we have been able to make an important addition to the country’s energy sector,” he said. No edible oil price hike, no need for panic buying: Commerce Minister He mentioned that the global energy supply system is facing challenges due to ongoing instability in the Middle East. In such a situation, the addition of new gas from the country’s own fields to the national grid is very promising and positive for Bangladesh, he added. The State Minister said thanks to the undying efforts of skilled engineers and officials of Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX), about 8 million cubic feet of gas will be supplied to the national grid daily from the Srikail-5 well. Drilling at the Srikail-5 well began on September 28 last year and was completed on January 1, 2026. About Tk 132 crore was spent on the project. According to relevant sources, the well may contain an estimated gas reserve of 40 billion cubic feet, of which around 28 billion cubic feet is considered recoverable. The gas expected to be produced from this field over the next 10 years is estimated to be worth about Tk 6,832 crore at current market prices. If the same amount of gas had to be imported, it would have created significant pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves. The State Minister said that under the government’s future plan, a target has been set to supply 82 million cubic feet of gas to the national grid. “This is not a fantasy plan but a realistic action plan. Through the talent and hard work of the skilled officers and employees of BAPEX, we will be able to achieve this goal, InshaAllah,” Anindyaa said. He also thanked the people of Mukhlespur and Muradnagar for their cooperation, saying the project would not have been possible without their support. Addressing the media, he said the government is working to gradually make the import-dependent energy sector self-reliant by utilising domestic resources. “We want to achieve self-sufficiency in the energy sector by properly utilising the natural resources beneath our soil through the talent and capability of our own engineers, officers and employees,” he said. According to the plan, the government aims to meet a significant portion of the country’s gas demand from domestic production within the next five years, he added, seeking cooperation from all sections of society, including the media. The State Minister also assured transparency and accountability in the sector, saying the government, elected by the people, is committed to ensuring that the country’s resources are used properly for national development. Expressing gratitude to officials and employees of BAPEX, he said the organisation has established itself as a capable and efficient institution. Efforts will be made to address long-standing issues faced by its officers and staff, he added. The inauguration ceremony was presided over by the chairman of Petrobangla, Md Ifanul Haque. Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division Mohammad Saiful Islam, local dignitaries from Muradnagar, senior officials of BAPEX and Petrobangla, and media representatives were present.