Staff Reporter :
State-owned Petrobangla has issued an official clarification refuting recent statements by trade association leaders, which it described as “misleading and confusing”, regarding alleged disruptions in gas supply to industrial units.
The response follows warnings issued by representatives from the textile and garment sectors, who claimed that many factories were on the verge of closure due to what they described as an acute shortage of natural gas, severely hindering operations.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Petrobangla countered these assertions with supply data, stating that the industrial sector has, in fact, received increased gas volumes in recent months. From January to April 2025, the sector received an average of 997 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd)-a 21 percent increase from 823 mmcfd during the same period in 2024.
In April alone, industrial deliveries reached 1,088 mmcfd, representing a nearly 50 percent year-on-year rise, the statement noted.
To meet growing demand, Petrobangla has arranged for the import of six additional cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) this year. It emphasised the financial burden of these imports, with LNG costing approximately Tk 65 per cubic metre, while industries are charged Tk 30 and captive power producers Tk 31.50-requiring government subsidies of around Tk 35 per cubic metre.
Additionally, Petrobangla announced plans to increase industrial gas supply by a further 150 mmcfd starting Wednesday. This will be achieved through sectoral reallocation and increased LNG imports.
“The government remains committed to ensuring uninterrupted gas supply to industries and has undertaken necessary steps to that end,” the statement said. “We trust this clarification will help dispel prevailing misconceptions.”
The clarification aims to reassure stakeholders amid ongoing concerns about energy supply reliability and its impact on export-oriented manufacturing sectors.
