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Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood on Monday said it would take another 10 to 15 days for the country’s gas supply situation to return to normal.
He made the remarks while speaking at a roundtable titled “Navigating Global Shifts: Fostering Energy Security and Resilience in Bangladesh” at a hotel in the capital.
The minister said repair work on the country’s Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) is currently underway.
Due to the disruption, two LNG cargoes could not be unloaded, leading to low gas pressure in household kitchens across the country and operational difficulties at power plants.
He noted that Bangladesh has become increasingly dependent on imported LNG, LPG and other fossil fuels as domestic gas production continues to decline. At the same time, the cost of imported fuel has risen sharply.
Over the past six months, the country has spent about US$3.65 billion on energy imports, placing significant pressure on its foreign exchange reserves, he said.
The minister also revealed that around Tk 56,000 crore in payments to private power plant owners remain outstanding from the tenure of the previous Awami League government.
He said the power sector’s primary challenge is now financial, with the government having to provide subsidies to ensure regular payment of bills.
He further said the government has recently announced a renewable energy policy with a target of generating 10,000 megawatts of electricity over the next five years.
Negotiations and land allocation processes are expected to be completed by August to begin implementing the programme.
The roundtable was organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) and moderated by its President, Major General (Retd.) A N M Muniruzzaman.
