Photo: Collected
The gas shortage in Dhaka and its surrounding areas has exacerbated with the onset of Ramadan due to a decrease in liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply to the grid.
The country, however, benefits from two floating LNG terminals managed by Summit Oil and Shipping Company Limited. Presently, the terminal they oversee is undergoing refurbishment (dry docking) in Singapore.
The terminal is anticipated to arrive at Maheshkhali by April. According to Petrobangla, the current gas supply to the national grid stands at 266.5 million cubic feet per day. Of this amount, 61.3 million cubic feet of LNG is being supplied daily through a single terminal. With the inclusion of the second terminal into the supply chain, the gas supply to the grid is poised to increase starting from next month. Consequently, the daily gas supply capacity in the grid will surpass 3 billion cubic feet.
Earlier this morning, there was a noticeable decline in gas pressure, a trend observed during the afternoons of the first three days of Ramadan. This has made it challenging to prepare Iftar items. Moreover, in many areas, gas pressure continues to decrease even at night, causing inconvenience during Sehri.
To address this crisis, the government has opted to shut down CNG stations and implement gas rationing in fertiliser factories. However, the primary beneficiaries of these decisions will be the power sector, which stands to gain an increase of 5 crore cubic feet in gas supply. Nonetheless, with one
LNG terminal currently closed, the situation is unlikely to stabilise before April.
State Minister for Power Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told the Daly Messenger “Import of gas has decreased by 10 percent. Besides, a floating LNG terminal is under renovation. At the same time, the gas produced in the country has also decreased by 100 million cubic feet. So, supply will not increase in March.”
In response to a question about the reduction in gas supply to households, he said, "In those areas where gas is a problem, I would request them to use LPG."
Shahana Begum, a resident of Banasree in the capital, said that during the first Ramadan (Tuesday) morning, chickpeas and pulses were soaked.
While cooking in the after noon, it was found that the gas pressure in the stove was low. There is no gas when chickpeas are half cooked. Nothing could be made. Due to this problem in most of the houses in the area, everyone went to buy iftar items from outside. So, you have to suffer there too. She said that gas was found after 12 am.
Gas problem has increased in many areas of Old Dhaka and other parts including Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Rampura, Moghbazar, Jatrabari. Distribution company Titas says the crisis has worsened due to less supply than demand.
Petrobangla Chairman Janendra Nath Sarkar told the Daily Messenger that an LNG terminal is closed due to maintenance work. It may launch in the last week of this month. Then gas supply will increase. At that time, there is a plan to provide 110 to 120 million cubic feet of gas for electricity.
The daily demand of gas in gas-based power plants during Ramadan is estimated to be at least 154 crore cubic feet. An average of 90 crore cubic feet is being given. Now the supply of gas is about 266 crore cubic feet per day. Of this, 600 million cubic feet is available from LNG. Currently, the gas demand in the country is 420 million cubic feet per day.
Messenger/Disha
