LNG system failure triggers 15pc fall in gas supply

Bangladesh’s already fragile energy supply system has taken another hit after a technical fault at a floating LNG terminal significantly reduced gas availability, leading to low pressure in several industrial and urban areas.

In an emergency notice, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited said around 400 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of supply was lost after a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) went out of operation.

The impact is substantial, as total gas supply is currently just over 2,600 mmcfd. The disruption effectively translates into a roughly 15 percent decline in overall availability.

The company warned that gas pressure would remain low across multiple areas under its network, including Gazaria in Munshiganj, Meghnaghat, Sonargaon, Narayanganj, and parts of southern Dhaka affecting households, power plants, and industrial users alike.

The setback comes at a time when the country is already dealing with a broader fuel shortage, driven by constrained imports, supply rationing, and rising demand ahead of the peak summer season.

Industry insiders say the sudden drop in regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) supply could put additional strain on electricity generation and industrial production, especially in sectors heavily dependent on gas.

Bangladesh has increasingly relied on imported LNG to offset declining domestic gas output.
However, with only two operational FSRUs handling regasification, the system remains vulnerable to single-point technical failures such as this.

Titas Gas did not indicate when the affected terminal would resume operations. In the meantime, authorities have expressed regret over the temporary disruption and urged consumers to use gas more cautiously to manage the shortfall.