Photo : Messenger
Residents and industrial stakeholders in capital Dhaka’s suburb Savar and Ashulia are currently grappling with a severe gas shortage that has escalated significantly over the past 14 days.
While gas shortages are a persistent issue throughout the year, the current situation has reached a critical point, adversely affecting both industrial operations and the daily lives of individuals in the area.
The heightened shortage is taking a toll on industrial production, causing disruptions and delays. Moreover, the shortage is adversely impacting the personal lives of residents who rely on gas for various domestic purposes. The consequences extend beyond the industrial sector, leading to a stagnation in the transport sector as vehicles are unable to access the necessary gas supply.
On January 22, a visit to the industrial areas of Savar and Ashulia revealed the acute challenges faced by both industrial and residential customers due to an ongoing and severe gas crisis. The situation has reached a critical point, compelling residential customers to seek alternative methods for cooking, while owners of export-oriented industries are grappling with the necessity of purchasing alternative fuels at elevated prices to sustain production.
The shortage has had a profound impact on the industrial sector, particularly on export-oriented industries that rely heavily on gas for their operations. The struggle to maintain production amid the scarcity is evident, with businesses forced to resort to expensive alternative fuels as a stopgap measure.
Abdur Rashid, a resident in the Gazirchat area of Ashulia, voiced his frustration, highlighting the severe impact of the gas shortage on daily life. He expressed concern that many residents are forced to resort to obtaining food from various hotels due to the inability to cook at home. The scarcity has led people to explore alternative cooking methods such as using rice cookers, induction cooktops, and stoves to cope with the challenging circumstances.
Asma Akhtar, residing in Savar Municipality's Bank Colony area, echoed similar sentiments, shedding light on the practical difficulties faced by residents. She mentioned that there is an insufficient supply of gas for cooking during the day, and even when it is available towards the night, the duration is too brief to complete essential cooking tasks.
In the backdrop of the gas shortage crisis in Savar and Ashulia industrial areas, the situation is further exacerbated for the approximately 1500 small industrial factories. These factories heavily depend on a gas pressure of 15 PSI (unit of gas pressure per square inch) to operate generators or boilers effectively. However, the current gas pressure has plummeted to less than half of the required amount.
Factory owners are expressing their concerns, citing the adverse impact of this pressure crisis on their production activities. In response to the gas pressure shortage, these factories are compelled to resort to alternative methods to keep their operations running. Unfortunately, this workaround not only disrupts the normal production processes but also leads to a significant increase in the production cost of their goods.
The Assistant General Manager (Administration) of Al Muslim Group in the Ulail area of Savar, Abu Raihan, shed light on the severe impact of the prolonged gas crisis on their industrial operations. Raihan mentioned that their factory has been grappling with the gas shortage for nearly a month, forcing them to adopt measures to sustain production momentum.
To cope with the insufficient gas supply, the factory has resorted to using alternative fuels, a move necessitated by the challenging circumstances. This shift to alternative fuels has significantly heightened the monthly utility cost for the company. Raihan revealed that their monthly expenses, which typically ranged between 6 to 7 crore taka, have now surged to about 10 crore taka due to the increased reliance on alternative fuels. The substantial rise in expenses by an additional three crore taka has had a tangible impact on the company's profit margins.
In addition to the challenges faced by industrial and residential customers, the gas shortage is also affecting CNG stations, further disrupting the transportation sector. The inadequate gas pressure during the day has led to a surge in demand for CNG during the late hours.
Drivers are now compelled to flock to CNG filling stations after 11 pm to ensure a smooth journey throughout the day. Md. Ershadul, a private car driver, shared his experience, recounting a journey from Shimultala in Savar to Manikganj. He highlighted the difficulty he faced as none of the four CNG pumps on the route, from Radio Colony in Savar to Dhulivita in Dhamrai, had gas available. This forced him to complete the journey using full octane, adding to the inconvenience and cost for drivers.
Asaduzzaman, the manager of Jirani CNG filling station in Ashulia, highlighted the significant challenges faced by CNG stations due to the gas shortage. He pointed out that throughout the day, the station is not receiving an adequate supply of gas, experiencing a decrease in gas main line pressure from the usual 18 to 20 psig to a mere 3 to 5 psig. However, there is a slight improvement at night, with gas pressure ranging between 12 to 13 psig.
In response to these concerns, Engineer Abu Saleh Mohammad Khadem Uddin, the managing engineer of Savar Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited, acknowledged the increased demand for gas during the winter. He attributed the crisis to the insufficient supply of gas in the national grid compared to the heightened demand. Despite these challenges, he reassured that efforts are underway to address and resolve the gas shortage crisis promptly.
Messenger/Fardin
