Search for domestic gas sources a must, or else the economy will be at risk
The gas supply remains less during winter every year due to various reasons. But the way people’s lives are disrupted and the production at industries hampered because of the gas crisis in the country, particularly in Chattogram region, it is beyond imagination.
Current supply of gas has come down to less than 2.5 billion cubic feet daily against the demand of 3.8 billion cubic feet. Besides, daily LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) demand is 800 million cubic feet but only 600 million cubic feet is being supplied.
According to a newspaper report, the gas crisis in Chattogram region took a serious turn when the gas supply from the floating LNG terminal at Maheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar was stopped recently due to a technical error.
The supply resumed after fixing the fault at the terminal, but the situation has not yet normalised.
Sources from the Bangladesh Oil, Gas, and Mineral Resources Corporation (Petrobangla) told the media that the daily demand of gas in the country is 3.8 billion cubic feet.
Even with 3 billion cubic feet of supply, there would be no major crisis. But the supply of gas has come down below 2.5 billion cubic feet per day.
Mentionable that there are two floating terminals in Maheshkhali for converting imported LNG and supplying it to the pipeline. One of the terminals is owned by Excelerate Energy, a US-based company, and the other one is Summit’s LNG Terminal.
It is not only in the Chattogram region, gas supply in other parts of the country is also much less than the normal amount.
As a result, many families are not able to light stoves and long queues of vehicles have appeared in front of many CNG stations.
However, State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid claimed that the gas supply would be normal soon. He asked the consumers to be patient.
But the question is even if the mechanical fault at Maheshkhali floating terminal is resolved, how could the shortage of gas and electricity in the whole country be eliminated?
Energy experts say the energy crisis in the country has intensified due to the government’s adoption of wrong policies.
When oil prices were low in the international market, the government imported the oil and sold it to consumers at higher prices.
Now the consumers are not getting fuel even after paying higher prices due to dollar-crisis.
The businessmen also alleged that when the price of oil was low in the international market, the government charged a high price. This was irrational.
Experts have been talking about exploring new gas fields for years but the government did not take it into consideration. Rather, they made a profit by buying the energy at a low price and selling it at a higher price to the people.
Thus the government instead of relying on imports, should explore domestic sources on an urgent basis. The longer the delay in resolving this, the more the country’s economy and people’s lives will be at risk.
