Govt to buy 4 more LNG cargoes over next 4 months to supply more gas to industries

The government has moved to buy four additional liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes during the next four months from May to August at the cost of around Tk 28 billion to allocate more gas to industrial consumers.

State-run Petrobangla will also reduce natural gas allocations for gas-fired power plants to 1,050 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) from existing 1,200 mmcfd to ramp up gas supply to industries by 150 mmcfd.

Adviser of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan drew up the plan to ramp up natural gas supplies to industries during a meeting with businesspersons at the Secretariat Wednesday.

Some 100 mmcfd of additional gas from additional LNG cargoes and some 150 mmcfd from divertion will ensure around 250 mmcfd of additional gas in total for industries during the next four months, said Mr Khan.

The government will have to spend an additional Tk110 billion to supply this additional gas to the industry, he added.

President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (BKMEA) Md Hatem, Hamim Group Director AK Azad, Meghna Group managing director Mostafa Kamal, Pran Group Chairman Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) president Anwar Ul Alam Chowdhury Parvez, energy secretary Saiful Islam, Petrolbangla Chairman Md Rezanur Rahman and Chief Advisor's press secretary Shafiqul Alam were among others attended the meeting.

Azizjst@yahoo.com