Gas crisis
When will the LPG crisis end? Businesses, homemakers in Dhaka struggle
A serious shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is disrupting kitchens and commercial eateries across the capital, forcing businesses and households to struggle with erratic supplies and higher costs.
For nearly two decades, Abdullah Molla has run a mid-range hotel in the capital, serving affordable meals to office-goers, students and low-income workers.
Over the past two weeks, however, he says keeping the business running has become a daily struggle.
“Even after paying more, gas cylinders are not available. Some days we cannot serve our full menu. We are losing money and customers are leaving without eating,” Abdullah told UNB.
Closing the kitchen is not an option but with no gas, many food items have already been dropped from the menu,he said .
Small restaurants and roadside food vendors are facing the same crisis across the country.
Kader, who runs a fast-food cart in a busy commercial area, said the rising price of LPG has pushed up his daily operating costs.
Gas cylinder explosion after wedding kills eight in Islamabad
“The price I used to buy gas at has increased sharply. If I raise food prices, customers get annoyed. Many walk away without buying anything,” he said.
Homemakers Under Pressure
The crisis is not limited to businesses. In many urban neighbourhoods, LPG is now the only cooking fuel as new residential gas connections remain suspended. For thousands of families, daily cooking has become uncertain.
Some households are being forced to switch to alternative fuels, which are often more expensive, time-consuming and inconvenient.
“There has been no pipeline gas in our area for a long time. We depend entirely on LPG cylinders, but now even that has become chaotic,” said housewife Arha Moni.
She alleged a huge gap between government-fixed prices and what retailers are charging.
“What is the official price of a 12-kg cylinder, and what are shopkeepers charging? Now it costs Tk 2,500 to Tk 2,600. Is this business, or is it robbery?” she asked.
Titas low pressure chokes gas supply across Dhaka; residents struggle
She accused traders of ignoring official prices and creating artificial shortages.
“Who gave them the right to empty ordinary people’s pockets through syndicates? Families are suffering badly. There is no gas in the stove, and buying a cylinder has become suffocating. Is there no one to see this?” she said.
Consumers have blamed weak market monitoring for allowing such practices to continue and have urged authorities to act immediately to curb price manipulation and ensure sales at government-fixed rates.
Import Dependence and Supply Disruptions
Businesses involved in LPG marketing claim that the current crisis stems from uncertainty in the supply system and complications over price adjustments.
They allege that despite the worsening situation, no clear directive or visible initiative has yet come from the government.
The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources on January 04 said there is no shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the country and local administrations have been ordered to take action against those responsible for creating the artificial crisis.
According to the ministry, LPG imports were 1.05 lakh metric tons in November 2025 and 1.27 lakh metric tons in December 2025.
Despite the increase in imports, there is no logic for a supply shortage in the market, it added.
Energy sector sources say Bangladesh’s annual LPG demand is now around 1.4 million metric tonnes, with monthly consumption exceeding 120,000 metric tonnes on average.
Demand rises further during winter and festival seasons.
Nearly 98 percent of the country’s LPG is imported, making the domestic market highly vulnerable to global price volatility, dollar shortages, LC opening complications and shipping delays.
Marketing companies claim recent import disruptions have prevented the buildup of adequate reserves.
Read more: How to Save Gas While Cooking at Home
As a result, dealers in many areas are receiving far fewer cylinders than required, creating shortages at the retail level.
Although the government-fixed price of a 12-kg cylinder remains unchanged, consumers say shortages have pushed market prices to Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,000 and even higher in many areas.
Analysts say LPG demand could reach 2.5 million metric tonnes annually by 2030. Without expanding supply capacity, simplifying import procedures and strengthening market monitoring, the crisis could worsen further.
A Ray of Relief?
Amid growing pressure from traders and consumers, Bangladesh Bank has eased import rules for liquefied petroleum gas to reduce financing pressure on local importers.
In a circular issued on Sunday, the central bank said LPG imports will now be eligible for usance terms of up to 270 days under suppliers’ or buyers’ credit.
The move is expected to give importers greater flexibility in managing payments during the ongoing dollar crunch.
However, industry insiders say the impact of the policy change may take time to be felt on the ground.
Until supply stabilises and prices come down, hotel owners, food vendors and homemakers fear the crisis will continue to disrupt daily life and livelihoods.
Energy and Mineral Resources Division's Joint Secretary AKM Fazlul Hoque said around six million households in Bangladesh currently use LPG, making it an essential commodity.
“The government is in the process of updating the LPG policy, which will include guidelines aimed at addressing existing challenges in the sector,” Fazlul added.
Chairman of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Jalal Ahmed on Thursday expressed optimism that the country would not face a shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) during the upcoming Ramadan, citing an expected increase in imports.
LP gas traders threaten nationwide supply suspension
“Those who brought in additional imports were not obstructed. Around 150,000 tonnes of LPG are expected to arrive in January. We hope there will be no problem during Ramadan,” Jalal said at a roundtable discussion titled ‘Challenges of Regulating the LPG Market’, organised by the LPG
3 days ago
Ghorashal Thermal Power Plant shut for 2.5 months
Power generation at the 1,105-megawatt (MW) Ghorashal Thermal Power Plant in Narsingdi has remained suspended for around two and a half months due to multiple factors, including an ongoing gas crisis, according to its Chief Engineer Enamul Haque.
Citing the prolonged shortage, he said production stopped at three major units this June -- Unit-5 (210 MW) on June 9, Unit-4 (360 MW) on June 13, and Unit-7 (360 MW) on June 14.
The government has diverted gas supply to fertiliser factories, prompting the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources to request alternative supply arrangements for power generation.
Enamul Haque said that Units 4, 5 and 7 are mechanically sound and could resume operation immediately once gas becomes available.
Earlier in June, Unit-3 (360 MW) went offline after its turbine rotor blades were damaged. Repair work is now in the final stage and the unit will also resume generation once gas supply is ensured.
Read: Barapukuria Power Plant shuts down due to mechanical issues
Meanwhile, Unit-6 (210 MW) has remained out of operation since June 2010, when a fire destroyed its turbine. Units 1 and 2, commissioned in 1967 and 1976 with 55 MW each, are also non-functional due to recurring mechanical issues.
Authorities plan to dismantle these ageing units and replace them with a new facility.
Once the country’s first large-scale thermal power plant, Ghorashal is now struggling to contribute to the national grid, leaving an impact on daily production.
4 months ago
Production at Ashuganj Fertiliser Factory suspended amid gas crisis
The Production of urea at the Ashuganj Fertiliser Factory in Brahmanbaria was suspended again on Sunday due to gas shortage, just 38 days after resuming.
The crisis forced the factory authorities to suspend production on Saturday night.
Earlier, fertiliser production remained suspended from February 21 to November 14 last year for the same reason.
Following movement by workers, Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited (BGDCL) resumed gas supply to the factory on November 15 and the factory returned to production on January 23 this year.
According to sources, the 1, 150 metric tonnes-production capacity factory requires at least 48 million cubic feet of gas per day to maintain normal production.
Though the factory had received gas, low pressure prevented full-scale production and the BGDCL stopped gas supply to the plant on Saturday evening, causing suspension of production from that night.
Gas supply suspension in various Dhaka areas Tuesday
AB Mahmud, general manager (operations) of the factory, said fertiliser production is impossible without gas.
“As a result, they were forced to halt operations. It is uncertain when production will resume.”
Meanwhile, Zahidur Reza, deputy general manager (engineering) of BGDCL, said that the gas supply to the factory was suspended following a government decision."The resumption of supply also depends on government directives. It is unlikely that the factory will receive gas during this season," he added.
10 months ago
Monthly gas crisis hits CNG filling stations in Sylhet
CNG filling stations in Sylhet are coping with their usual end-of-month gas crisis, leading to the temporary closure of many pumps. At those that remain operational, long queues of vehicles waiting to refuel are common, causing significant headaches for CNG filling station owners, drivers, and passengers alike.
The gas shortage typically intensifies at the end of the month, a problem that has persisted for over a decade. Owners of CNG filling stations have reported that due to the lag in gas supply, they are unable to meet demand during the last ten days of each month.
Gas supply to remain off for 12 hours in Narsingdi Wednesday
Despite repeated written and verbal requests to the Jalalabad Gas authorities for a resolution, the situation has only worsened. In light of these ongoing issues, CNG filling station owners are contemplating organized protests to address their grievances.
Since 2007, gas has been supplied to vehicles from CNG filling stations in Sylhet, which currently number 56 in the division. However, no new stations have been approved in the past decade. Meanwhile, the number of vehicles on the road has quadrupled since 2007, yet gas supply remains based on outdated quotas.
Filling station owners have stated that Jalalabad Gas authorities have set specific quotas for each station, with fines imposed on those who exceed their allotted supply. Since these quotas often get used up before the end of the month, this is another factor leading to the crisis at the end of each month.
On-the-ground reports confirm that many CNG filling stations in Sylhet were closed on Sunday, including the Ambarkhana Jalalabad CNG Filling Station, Independent Filling Station, Shahjalal Filling Station, and Tamekhi Shafaatullah Filling Station.
United Group power plants getting gas at concessional rate, but selling electricity at commercial rate to EPZs
CNG auto-rickshaw drivers expressed their frustration, noting that the gas crisis at the end of each month causes severe hardship for both drivers and passengers. They have urged the government to resolve the gas supply issue in Sylhet.
Zubair Ahmed Chowdhury, the divisional president of the Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distributors, Agents, and Petrol Pump Owners Association, stated that they have repeatedly requested an increase in gas allocations from Jalalabad Gas. However, the authorities have not taken the matter seriously, citing national shortages as an excuse for inaction.
1 year ago
Petrobangla seeks to complete drilling of 48 wells by 2025 to add 618 MMCFD gas to national grid
State-owned oil, gas and minerals corporation Petrobangla seeks to complete the drilling of a total of 48 wells at different gas fields hoping to add 618 MMCFD to national grid by 2025.
This will be done through Petrobangla's own companies and outsourcing of contractors by next year.
"We're very serious about implementing the plan on time and if necessary, we will seek a waiver from the provision of a mandatory feasibility study to avoid a time consuming process", said a top official of the Petrobangla.
The official preferred anonymity as he is not authorised to talk to media.
The plan is to add a total of 618 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) gas to the national grid when power, industries as well as many other sectors are reeling from gas shortage.
Read more: Action against officials of Petrobangla companies if fail to achieve target: Nasrul
According to an official document, obtained by UNB, of the planned 48 wells, 23 will be drilled using the rigs of the Bapex (Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited) while the remaining 25 will be done by the outsourcing of the contractors at the existing onshore gas fields under a crash programme.
"These wells will be drilled as part of the government's ongoing plan to increase the gas production from the local gas fields ", another top official of the Petrobangla told UNB, also wishing anonymity.
He, however, declined to comment officially as some of the wells' approval process still remains pending with the government's highest authority.
Sources said Petrobangla took up the programme against the backdrop of the declining gas production with depleting reserve positions.
The country's 20 gas fields, out of total 29, produce between 1,600 and 1,900 MMCFD gas while another 1000 MMCFD gas is being imported to meet the demand for about 4000 MMCFD.
Read more: Petrobangla invites offshore bidding for oil, gas exploration
Officials said the local fields are depleting fast and gas reserves are declining.
Currently there is 9 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas in the country's reserve, out of a total of 30 TCF while 21 TCF has already been produced.
The gas demand is growing fast as many of the gas-fired power plants and new industries are being set up across the country.
As per a scenario -2 of a projection of the Petrobangla, the country's gas demand will go up to 5,092 MMCFD in 2029-30, 6072 MMCFD in 2034-35 and 6,986 in 2040-41.
Actually, the plan for drilling 48 wells is a part of the ongoing plan under which drilling of a number of wells has already been completed, said another official of Petrobangla.
Read more: Petrobangla now plans to invite int’l bidding for onshore blocks for hydrocarbon exploration: Chairman
These wells include Bhola North-2, Togbi-1, Elisha-1, Srikail North-1, Shariatpur-1, Titas-24, Beanibazar-1, Koilash Tila-2, Sylhet-10, Rashidpur-2, and Sundalpur-3.
These newly drilled wells have now been contributing 126 MMCFD gas to the national grid, noted the official.
1 year ago
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.
Gas crisis: Indefinite transport strike underway in Sylhet
1 year ago
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.
FBCCI urges for strengthening oil, gas exploration to ensure uninterrupted supply to industries
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.
100% percent prepaid gas meters within four years: Nasrul Hamid
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.
More gas likely to be found in Sylhet’s Kailashtila field: Nasrul
“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.
Read more: BNP denounces move to double monthly rent for prepaid gas meters
1 year ago
Gas crisis puts 3 major fertilizer factories out of production for nine days in Ctg
Though gas crisis for residential consumers has reduced slightly, fertilizer producing heavy industries in the port city of Chattogram, considered as a business hub, have been grappling with it for the past nine days suspending production in the three major factories.
The factories are the state-owned Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL), CUFL's DAP-1, and DAP-2 units.
Though Chattogram-based Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company (KAFCO) had been out of production due to lack of gas supply for the past nine days, it returned to production on Saturday morning.
The Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) held the gas crisis and technical glitches in factories responsible for suspension of the production in the commercial city of the country.
It was learned that the technical faults in the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) at Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar suspended the gas supply to both residents and industries in the Chattogram on January 19.
Road crash leaves 3 motorcyclists dead in Chattogram
Although residential gas supply resumed two days later, industrial factories continued to suffer from the gas crisis, compelling large industrial units to shut down production for the past nine days.
The authorities concerned asked the heavy industries to keep their productions shut until the gas supply normalises fully.
CUFL's Managing Director Mizanur Rahman said the gas crisis forced them to halt production from the night of January 19. Before the closure, the CUFL used to produce 12,000 metric tonnes of urea fertilizer per day.
In the country, KAFCO and CUFL have been playing a major role in producing fertilizer. The KAFCO alone produces around 5.5 (0.55 million)lakh tonnes of fertilizer and supplies to various warehouses annually, he said.
The total demand for urea fertilizer in the country is 2.7 million tonnes, out of which 1 million tonnes are produced domestically while the rest is imported, the KAFCO officer informed.
He expressed optimism that once the gas supply returns to normal and maintenance work on the industrial machinery concludes, production will resume.
2 people killed in separate road accidents in Chattogram
He emphasised that the situation would improve after resolving the gas pressure issue affecting heavy industrial units.
On the other hand, gas distributing Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) defended them saying that initially the shutdown of KAFCO and CUFL factories was due to technical problems. Subsequently, production was affected due to the gas crisis. Once gas supply resumed, production faced interruptions again due to technical issues.
Despite the turmoil in the gas supply to the port city, KGDCL’s Managing Director Engineer Aminur Rahman claimed that there are no pressure-related problems. Gas is supplied regularly to general consumers, including industrial establishments, commercial entities, and households.
However, bulk consumers, such as power plants and fertilizer factories, receive limited gas supply as directed from above, he said.
The port city needs 30 to 32 billion cubic feet of gas per day while industrial factories alone require 8 to 10 billion cubic feet. However, due to the gas crisis, around two-thirds of this demand remains unmet.
According to the Directorate of Inspection for Factories and Establishments in Chattogram, except ceramics there are 4,949 registered factories in Chattogram,
Of them, 1,924 are textile factories and the rest are non-RMG (Ready-Made Garments) factories. The commercial hub also hosts 29 steel mills and eight cement factories. Production in these industries has been severely affected due to the gas supply disruption, resulting in substantial financial losses for factory owners.
BPL 2024: Avishka Shines as Chattogram Challengers Win Against Struggling Barishal
According to the KGDCL, they have over 1,200 industrial customers. Among them are 15 to 20 major industries like BSRM, GPH Ispat, and many others, totaling .
Apart from these, the CUFL, KAFCO, and DAP fertilizer factories, and two power plants in Raozan and Sikalbaha are supplied with approximately 300 million cubic feet of gas daily by the government.
Beyond these, non-governmental industrial units and residential consumers have a daily gas demand of around 150 million cubic feet.
The gas situation has created a chaotic scenario for factories and industries in the Chattogram, impacting the industrial landscape of the region.
With the hope that gas supply normalizes and industrial machinery maintenance concludes, industry stakeholders are optimistic about an improvement in the overall situation.
1 year ago
Gas supply to Ctg, elsewhere starts improving as LNG terminal resumes production
Gas supply to Chattagram and elsewhere has started to improve after a floating LNG terminal in Moheshkhali resumed production after its 45-day scheduled maintenance programme.
“Excelerate Energy’s FSRU started production after scheduled maintenance today. Now it has been supplying 230 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd) and hopefully the supply will reach 500 mmcfd soon,” said a top official of the Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL).
The RPGCL, a subsidiary of state-owned Petrobangla, has been responsible to import LNG from abroad and receive re-gasification service from the existing two LNG terminals in Moheshkhali, one set up by Summit Group and another by US-based Excelerate Energy.
Each LNG terminal has a capacity to supply 500 mmcfd gas to the national gas network from which a major portion is supplied to Chattagram .
Read: Energy Division regrets inconvenience from gas crisis in Chattagram, elsewhere
The Excelerate Energy’s FSRU went on a 45-day maintenance programme suspending supply of gas to the national gas grid while the Summit’s FSRU experienced a technical fault halting gas supply to the national gas network, leading to a severe gas crisis in Chattagram and elsewhere.
Many areas in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gazipur experienced extreme gas crises or low pressure problems.
The RPGCL official, however, informed that Summit’s FSRU also resumed production to a very low scale and it is providing a supply of 130 mmcfd against its capacity of 500 mmcfd.
He noted that the gas shortage problem is unlikely to be fully resolved as the Summit’s FSRU also has a schedule to start maintenance programme within 3-4 days.
Read: Uninterrupted gas supply by 2026 : Nasrul Hamid outlines energy plans
“We think the situation will improve to some extent, but not fully”, he told UNB.
The Energy Division on Friday expressed regrets for the inconvenience caused to consumers over the gas crisis in Chattogram and elsewhere in the country due to the suspension of the LNG supply from FSRU in Moheshkhali following a technical fault there.
In a press release, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division said that due to a technical fault at a Moheshkhali LNG FSRU, gas supply to Chattogram and other areas of the country remained suspended since early morning on Friday.
Read more: Acute gas crisis hits Chattogram city residents hard
2 years ago
Acute gas crisis hits Chattogram city residents hard
Different areas in Chattogram city have been experiencing shortage or low pressure in gas supply for the past one and a half months, hampering the household chores and production at industrial units.
City dwellers said although the gas crisis started in the mid October, it has intensified recently. Some of them alleged that they do not get any gas even in 24 hours.
According to Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL), the gas shortage in Chattogram port city turned acute due to suspension of gas supply from one of the two LNG terminals in Moheshkhali.
Besides, the authorities also suspended gas supply in households due to maintenance purposes.
KGDCL authorities said Chattogram used to some 310-400 million cubic feet of gas from the national grid during normal time but on January 3 it reveived only 280 million cubic feet.
The city dwellers have been experiencing the gas crisis since October 22 and gas supply remains suspended from 9 am to 3 pm in most of the areas.
Industries in Dhaka, adjoining areas to get Bhola’s gas in CNG form
KGDCL authorities said the gas shortage may continue for a long time due to low pressure of gas supply from Moheshkhali LNG gas terminal.
Meanwhile, Omar Hazzaz, president, Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCCI), urged State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid to take necessary steps to mitigate the sufferings of the consumers.
He also sent a letter to the minister on Wednesday.
“Chattogram needs 400-450 million cubic feet of gas but only 280 million cubic feet is available now. Of the total gas, nearly 100 million cubic feet gas is used in two fertilizer factories and one thermal power plant while the rest are being distributed to the residents, industries and CNG filling stations, which is not sufficient,” the letter reads.
The rest of the gas is being distributed to a large number of residential consumers in the city, factories and CNG stations using various strategic methods. As a result, the factories and households are facing a serious gas crisis, it added.
Industries in Dhaka, adjoining areas to get Bhola’s gas in CNG form
Managing director of KGDCL (operation division), Engineer Aminur Rahman, said the people of Chattogram port city depend on LNG gas supply and the supply of gas has reduced remarkably.
“It is difficult to say how long the crisis will stay,” he added.
Talking to some residents in Lalkhan Bazar, Kazir Dewri, Askar DighirPar, Khulshi, Jamal Khan lane, Dewanji Pukur Par, Dewan Bazar, Hem Sen Lane, Shulokbohor, Ghat Farhadbegh, Bakolia, Chawkbazar and others area, this UNB correspondent found that people of those areas are passing their days in misery during this winter.
Many residents of the areas said it is not new. Every year they experience gas crisis from November to February.
Shahnur Sultana, an employee of a bank, said “Now I have to leave my house in the morning without having any breakfast as there is no gas in my house in the morning. We have to buy food from a local hotel.”
KGDCL authorities said the gas supply to the domestic consumers has been disrupted as they have to supply gas to Chattogram Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL) and Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KFCL).
Raid Uddin Ahmed, General Manager (Marketing, South Division) of KGDCL, said two Moheshkhali LNG terminals supply a total of 800-900 million cubic feet of gas to the national grid but now supply from one of them has been suspended due to maintenance work.
The supply situation will improve after the completion of the maintenance work, he added.
There are 6,01,914 consumers under KGDCL and of these, 5,97,516 connections are given to households.
Gas supply from Bhola to Dhaka’s industries in CNG form begins
2 years ago