Photo : Collected
Petrobangla, the state-owned exclusive gas producer in the country, is currently facing challenges as its gas supply has now reached the lowest in a decade, significantly impacting both the industries and households nationwide.
Sources in Petrobangla said the current demand for gas stands at 420 crore cubic feet, while the supply is only 255 crore cubic feet, resulting in a shortfall of 165 crore cubic feet, or 39.28 percent, against the demand.
The severity of the winter has exacerbated the gas crisis, particularly in the capital, where a majority of people are experiencing difficulties, especially during cooking times. Industries grappling with insufficient gas supply have been compelled to reduce their production output. It is worth noting that industries have historically not received gas in accordance with their demand.
Concerns have been raised about the intensifying gas crisis over the last two months, with Petrobangla supplying the lowest amount of gas in the last decade. The situation has worsened due to the unusually cold weather this season, creating a severe crisis for the country's residents.
Harunur Rashid Mollah, the Managing Director of Titas Gas Distribution Company, told The Daily Messenger that there has been a persistently low gas supply over the past two months.
Additionally, he mentioned that one LNG terminal, currently closed for repairs, is expected to reopen at the end of the month, potentially contributing to an increase in gas supply.
The impact of the gas crisis in Bangladesh is evident in various sectors, with Fazlul Haque, the vice president of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), revealing to The Daily Messenger that they have been compelled to cut production by up to 70 percent due to the severe shortage of gas. He emphasised that the scarcity of gas is not a new challenge for industries, but during the winter, this crisis has intensified significantly.
Professor Shamsul Alam, the energy advisor for the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), expressed concerns about consumers not receiving an adequate supply of gas, despite having to pay bills regularly. He suggested that installing prepaid meters could help reduce gas waste, but Titas, the gas distribution company, has been reluctant to implement such meters.
Residents, like Nahid Anjum from Kathalbagan, are experiencing the brunt of the gas crisis. She mentioned that there is no gas available from morning to afternoon, leading her to resort to cooking with electric ovens. This has not only resulted in higher electricity bills but also the burden of paying for gas without receiving a consistent supply.
Tania Jahan, a resident of Shonir Akhra, shared her recent struggles, noting that although her house usually has gas, the situation has worsened in the last few days, with gas being unavailable for a significant part of the day.
The gas shortage has also affected CNG (compressed natural gas) pumps, which are closed for 5 hours daily from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. to redirect gas supply to other sectors. Despite long queues at CNG stations throughout the day, drivers are facing challenges in obtaining gas as per their demands due to low gas pressure. This has created frustration and inconvenience for those relying on CNG for their vehicles.
The gas shortage in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Ashulia, Savar, and Mymensingh areas is severely impacting factory operations, causing them to run at a snail’s pace. Factory owners are facing a significant challenge as only 2-3 psi (pressure per square inch) of gas is available for boilers, which typically require 15 psi to operate. This shortage is forcing factories to shut down production for a substantial part of the day. Despite the production halt, owners still need to pay workers, leading to financial losses and, in some cases, the forced closure of factories.
The current gas supply is reported to be even lower than the levels experienced in the last quarter of 2022, when the government suspended the purchase of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the international spot market due to record-high prices and a dollar shortage.
The prospects for a quick resolution to the gas shortage appear grim, as the supply is expected to increase only in the latter half of February. However, this improvement may be offset by a corresponding rise in demand during that period.
Adding to the challenges, industrial gas prices were raised by a substantial 179 percent earlier last year, placing an additional burden on businesses already grappling with the gas crisis.
Energy experts are expressing concerns that the government's preference for importing gas rather than focusing on domestic exploration may contribute to the prolonged crisis. Despite the potential for domestic gas exploration, it has been neglected for a long time. This neglect, coupled with the current import-oriented approach, suggests that a quick resolution to the gas shortage is unlikely in the near future.
Messenger/Disha
