500mmcfd imported LNG supply to national grid from April 25

The government is set to supply 500 mmcfd imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the national grid from April 25 to meet the country's growing energy demand, an official said on Sunday.

"The first LNG-laden vessel will anchor the floating storage refuelling unit (FSRU) terminal located at offshore the Moheshkhali Island in the Bay of Bengal on April 23," Secretary of Energy and Mineral Resources Division Nazimuddin Chowdhury said.

He said the LNG supply to the national grid will start from April 25, as the government has already installed 91km pipelines from Moheshkhali to Anwara in Chittagong.

The government is importing LNG from Qatar's state-run energy company RasGas to ensure energy security in the country, he added.

It has also kept some other sources open for LNG import to mitigate gas crisis, the secretary said, adding, "The imported LNG will be supplied to Chittagong area and this will increase the gas pressure in the capital city."

According to a ministry official, the Petrobangla signed a long-term agreement with Qatar to import up to 2.8 million tonnes of LNG per annum and the FSRU terminal is being developed offshore the Moheshkhali Island in the Bay of Bengal by Excelerate Energy on a build, own and operate basis.

The contract details said the RasGas will supply 2.8 million tonnes of LNG every year. The demand for gas will stand at 8,000 mmcfd in 2041.

Currently, the Petrobangla supplies approximately 2,750 million cubic feet of natural gas a day from domestic gas fields against a demand for at least 3,500 million cubic feet gas, reports BSS.