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State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said on Thursday that the activities for exploration and extraction of oil and gas will be enhanced with the help of technology.
“We will drill 48 wells by 2024–25. Activities are being taken for drilling another 100 wells, as demand for gas has been continuously increasing,” he said while delivering a speech at the opening session of a workshop titled “Gas Demand-Supply Scenario; Scope of Seismic Survey & Enhancement of Drilling Activities to Expedite Hydrocarbon Production” at Petrobangla in Dhaka.
The state minister said that to match supply and demand, economic growth will continue, adding, “Plan will be prepared with the opinion of experts. In 2029-30, demand of gas could be 6655 mmcfd. On the other hand, reserves in our own mines are decreasing.
We also have to think about alternative sources of energy.”
Nasrul Hamid said that, avoiding criticism clear proposals are needed on how to increase the supply of oil and gas to the industries to boot up the country’s economy.
“Domestic gas, mixed with imported LNG at a purchase price of Tk 24.80 per cubic meter but the average selling price is Tk 21.41 per cubic metre.
This deficiency can disrupt balanced development. Apart from that, if the gas is given as per demand for electricity, subsidies will be reduced by around 70 per cent,” he added.
Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Managing Director Md. Anwar Islam and Petrobangla General Manager Mehrur Hasan presented the main articles, while Petrobangla Chairman Janendra Nath Sarkar chaired the function.
Energy Division Secretary Md Nurul Alam also spoke at the opening ceremony as a special guest.
Among others, Dhaka University Geology Department Prof Dr Badrul Imam, Prof Dr ASM Obaidullah, Prof Dr Md Anwar Hossain Bhuiyan, Associate Prof Dr Md Mostafizur Rahman, Prof of Geological Sciences of the Jahangirnagar University Dr Hussain Md Sayem, Prof Sakhawat Hossain, Prof of BUET Md Mahbubur Rahman, Prof Dr Md Ijaz Hossain and officers concerned were present.