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Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku has said that there is little he can do beyond “counting the days” and managing load-shedding until repairs to a floating LNG terminal are completed.
He made the remarks while joining an event organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) online on Thursday (August 13).
Referring to ongoing repair work on the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), the minister said, “All I can do now is count the days and wait for the engineers working on the FSRU to complete the repairs.”
He said the government was also trying to manage the situation to minimise load-shedding and ensure that industries receive adequate gas.
“What else can I do? We are managing things so that load-shedding is reduced and I can supply gas to industries,” he said.
The minister said Bangladesh plans to establish three new floating LNG terminals by 2029.
He said all existing FSRUs are currently located around Chattogram, making it necessary to establish new terminals in the Khulna region. Surveys are already underway at Payra, Mongla and Hiron Point as possible locations, he added.
The minister said the government is inviting investors to develop the terminals. A large US delegation has already expressed interest in investing in FSRUs, he said, adding that they have been asked to submit a formal proposal quickly so that the government can proceed with the work.
He stressed that Bangladesh would have to continue importing gas, but said expanding FSRU capacity alone would not be enough to ensure supplies reach consumers.
“After importing gas, we must ensure it reaches the people properly. For that, we also need to overcome pipeline limitations,” he said.
The government has planned a new pipeline to address the gas transmission shortage between Chattogram and Bakhrabad, while discussions are underway with Malaysia on bringing gas from Bhola for wider use, he added.
Criticising the previous Awami League government, Tuku said the country had been brought to its current situation after relying heavily on gas imports instead of conducting adequate exploration over the past 17 years.
He said the crisis could have been avoided if the necessary infrastructure for imports had been developed properly and four FSRUs had been installed instead of two.
The minister also said the current government has taken initiatives to strengthen state-owned exploration company BAPEX by accelerating well drilling and has ordered the purchase of two additional drilling rigs.
