Severe gas crunch causes industrial slowdown in Ctg

Chattogram has once again been hit by a severe gas crisis, cutting local gas supply by almost half. The shortage has disrupted residential life, commercial businesses, transport infrastructure and industrial production across the region.

Supply disruption statistics data from Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) reveal a huge gap between fuel demand and available supply: Total regional demand is 400 million cubic feet of gas per day.

Current daily supply is 210 million cubic feet. Daily supply deficit is 190 million cubic feet (leaving the region with only 52.5 per cent of its required gas). Infrastructure collapse the crisis is due to structural dependence on liquefied natural gas (LNG) imported through the floating terminal at Maheshkhali.

A massive fire at the Excelerate Energy floating terminal on July 21 completely shut down the facility, cutting off about 450 million cubic feet of supply daily to the national grid. Although engineers partially restarted a system boiler on August 6, restoring a baseline flow of 115 million cubic feet, the facility is still operating well below its normal operating capacity.

Technical teams are still working to replace damaged electronic control components and instrumentation networks. Widespread economic impact: The fuel shortage has directly crippled regional power generation and factory production.

Industrial production decline: Factories in major industrial areas, including the Bayezid Bostami area, have reported a 30 per cent drop in production. Industrial boilers, furnaces and their own power generators are not operating efficiently due to low pressure.

The 225-megawatt Shikalbaha power plant is receiving only 28 to 30 million cubic feet of gas against its peak demand of 37 million cubic feet.

Meanwhile, both the 210 MW generating units of Raujan are completely shut down. The Power Development Board (PDB) said there is a power shortage of 170 MW to 200 MW during peak demand.

This is resulting in load shedding of 6 to 7 hours per day in urban areas, while rural upazilas under the jurisdiction of Palli Bidyut Samity are facing severe power outages of 10 to 12 hours per day.