Staff Correspondent:

The government is eyeing reducing gas supply for power generation and diverting it to overcome the existing industrial gas crisis.

In addition, from May to August, four additional cargoes of LNG will be imported and supplied to the industrial sector.

Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan outlined this strategy after a meeting with the country’s leading businessmen at the Secretariat on Wednesday (May 7).

He said 1,200 MMcfd of gas was being supplied to the power sector daily to meet the increased demand during Ramadan and irrigation.

Now, 150 MMcfd would be reduced and given to industries, while four additional cargoes of LNG will be imported, and another 100MMcfd of gas will be given to the industry daily.

The government will spend an additional Tk11,000 crore to supply this additional gas to the industry.

As a result, from now on, an additional 250 MMcfd of gas will be supplied to industries.

Meanwhile, the energy advisor also said gas and electricity prices will not be increased for the time being.

Former FBCCI president and Hamim Group Director AK Azad, who was present at the event, said if the additional gas was supplied as planned by the government, the industrial demand would be met.

The meeting was attended by Meghna Group MD Mostafa Kamal, Pran Group Chairman Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, BKMEA President Md Hatem, Bangladesh Chamber of Industries President Anwar Ul Alam Chowdhury Parvez and businessmen from various sectors.

In addition, Energy Secretary Saiful Islam, Petrol Bangla Chairman Rezanur Rahman, Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and others were present.

The latest move by the government comes amid increasing calls from investors to ramp up energy supply to the industrial sector in recent days.

Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) said domestic and foreign investors have identified and expressed concerns over four key challenges that they think are impacting Bangladesh’s investment climate, including the energy and pricing policy.

He shared investors’ expectations with Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin who responded to various questions from investors through the Bida chairman.

Sk Bashir Uddin said the full development of Bangladesh’s LNG infrastructure is underway and, once completed, industries will be able to access high-quality fuel at a lower cost.

“Liquefied natural gas will be regasified and distributed through a pipeline network. Once commissioned, hopefully within two years, industries that use captive power generation will benefit significantly. It will be more cost-effective than grid electricity and better in quality,” he explained.

He also said, “I see challenges, and we need to recognise them. But once LNG is brought into the country, and the necessary infrastructure is in place to regasify it, we hope to address these problems.”

He also pointed out that one region in Bangladesh already has a gas surplus, where investors can immediately secure gas connections to start operations without delay.

“If you generate your own electricity using gas generators, it will be cheaper, of better quality, and should effectively meet your needs,” he added.