Excelerate runs out of LNG
Bangladesh’s LNG shortage has intensified after the Excelerate-operated floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) at Moheshkhali ran out of imported LNG and stopped supplying the national grid, leaving the country with a gas deficit of more than 1,600 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd).
The FSRU halted gas supply at around 3pm on Wednesday, according to multiple Petrobangla officials. With Summit’s FSRU supplying about 550 mmcfd, total national gas availability has fallen below 2,200 mmcfd against demand of around 3,800 mmcfd.
The latest disruption comes only a day after reports that gas availability had improved from last week’s severe shortages. Industries, however, were still struggling with low pressure, while a larger share of available gas was being diverted to power plants.
The Excelerate-operated terminal has a regasification capacity of around 600 mmcfd. It resumed partial operations on 6 August after remaining out of service since a fire on 21 July followed by technical problems.
The terminal was disrupted again on 14 August before resuming operations the following day.
Petrobangla officials said the terminal has now exhausted its LNG inventory, effectively removing up to around 600 mmcfd of potential imported gas supply from the national system.
The country’s two FSRUs have a combined regasification capacity of approximately 1,100 mmcfd.
The latest shutdown means Bangladesh is once again heavily dependent on Summit’s terminal for imported LNG until another cargo can be delivered to Excelerate.
According to the government’s LNG procurement plan, the Excelerate terminal is unlikely to resume operations before 23 August, when its next LNG consignment is scheduled to arrive.
The renewed disruption threatens to put further pressure on gas-dependent industries, power plants and households at a time when the country is already facing a substantial gap between supply and demand.
The loss of Excelerate’s output also comes after a brief improvement in gas availability, raising concerns about the fragility of Bangladesh’s LNG-dependent energy system.
With domestic gas production declining and imported LNG accounting for a significant share of the country’s gas supply, any disruption at either of the two floating terminals can quickly translate into shortages across the national grid.
For now, the country’s gas supply outlook will depend heavily on the timely arrival of the next LNG cargo and the restoration of Excelerate’s FSRU operations.
