Mar 9, 2024
| Nurul Amin | The Daily Observer
Over 500 million cft of gas per day is likely to be added to the national grid by March 20, according to Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL) sources. One of two Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRU) at Moheshkhali owned by Summit Group is expected to arrive in the country by March 20 after maintenance in Singapore, said Managing Director of RPGCL Engineer M Rafiqul Islam.
Currently, the Summit FSRU is now undergoing maintenance in Singapore. With the arrival of the Summit FSRU, the production of LNG terminal in Moheshkhali will increase over 1100 million cft resulting in the improvement of energy supply in the country, sources said. Upon resumption of its operation, the country's LNG regasification is expected to reach around 1,100 million cft, easing the ongoing energy crisis. RPGCL sources said that the Excelerate Energy Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) is presently producing over 600 million cft of gas, over its production capacity of 500 million cft. The production capacity of Excelerate FSRU had increased after maintenance in Singapore in the past month.
The RPGCL, a subsidiary of state-owned Petrobangla, has been responsible to import LNG from abroad and receive regasification service from the existing two LNG terminals in Maheshkhali, one set up by Summit Group and another by US-based Excelerate Energy. Each LNG terminal has a capacity to supply 500 million cft gas to the national network from which a major portion is supplied to Chattogram. RPGCL sources said that both the FSRUs need proper maintenance after 5 years of installation. So, both the units should be maintained in Singapore and to get a certificate, sources said. First of all, the FSRU belongs to Excelerate Energy went to Singapore for maintenance works which returned on January 18 last.
Petrobangla intends to regasify up to 8.33 per cent more LNG or up to 650 million cft of LNG until resumption of Summits FSRU after carrying out overhauling to resolve the ongoing natural gas crisis in the country. The demand of gas in Chattogram is largely met through supplies from floating LNG terminals that needs 325 million cft for consumption daily. The total number of subscribers of the Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd (KGDCL) are 601,914 including 597,561 are domestic. According to KGDCL sources, Chattogram needs 100 million cft for private industries including all EPZ and EZ, 100 million cft for CUFL and KAFCO, 100 million cft for four power plants and 50 million cft for domestic uses.
From 320 million cft of gas now receiving from Petrobangla, 178 million cft distributes to private industries and domestic uses, 44 million cft for KAFCO and 34 million cft for one Shikalbaha power plant, KGDCL sources said. KGDCL sources said that there was no shortage of energy supply in Chattogram. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government has recently taken steps to improve the energy supply in the country. As per the steps the government has recently approved proposal for procuring more cargo LNG to meet the growing demands of the country.