The journey has begun to bring Bhola gas in the form of CNG (compressed natural gas). The first gas is going to the factory of Graphics Textile Limited located in Dhamrai.
This CNG will play a helpful role in removing the low pressure of industry in Dhaka region which is under low pressure of gas. Areas where there is low pressure will be given priority.
On Thursday (December 21), the grand opening was held at a hotel in the capital. At a pressure of 3000 psi (per square inch), gas will come in 3500 cubic meters per cylinder.
In the opening ceremony, Minister of State for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said that the Bhola-Barishal pipeline will be constructed along with cylinders. A pre-survey is underway to supply gas to Khulna from there. There is a pipeline in Rangpur and we can provide industrial gas there as well.
Regarding the high price, he said that Bhola-Barishal pipeline will require about Tk.1500 crore. Pipeline money is paid by the government so no one counts it. No one takes into account the cost of land and the cost of pipes. Only gas prices are calculated. Considering the price of pipes, this price is not very high.
Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Nurul Alam said that 5 mmcfd (million cubic feet) per day is not much. But only the beginning, more must be increased. LNG should be brought as it arrives in big ships. The development of industry is essential, for this energy must be ensured.
He said, we are importing LNG at a very high price. If you can reduce imports, you will save money. We got oil in Sylhet, We will not leave that too, more oil will be found in Sylhet. I don't believe in fate, I believe in action.
Chairman of Petrobangla Janendra Nath Sarkar said, our daily gas demand is about 4 thousand million cubic feet. And the supply is below 3 thousand million cubic feet. Out of this about 2100 million is coming from domestic gas fields, about 800 million is imported. Two LNG terminals are planned to be commissioned in 2041. One more long-term agreement with Oman and Qatar has been signed. Due to shortfall in demand and supply, severe gas shortages are prevailing in some areas especially at the end of the pipeline.
He said that the process of importing gas from India through the border pipeline is going on. The agreement will be signed soon after the government's approval. Besides, a master plan has been undertaken for oil and gas exploration within the country. The target of drilling 46 wells which is in progress has been increased to 48. 9 wells have been drilled in that project and gas has been found in 7 of them. This has added 125 million cubic feet of gas.
He further said that we are working on the possibility of 120 more wells by 2026-28. We expect to identify 70-75 well locations. At least 50-60 wells will be dug out of this. All work will be completed before 2026.
He said when we made an agreement to bring CNG. 5 million will come first and then another 20 million. Another 20 million are expected to arrive by October 2024. I will arrange to bring it in advance. 5 more wells are being drilled in Bhola area, more wells will be drilled in the Master Plan 2026-28. It will also increase production capacity.
HM Hakeem Ali, Chairman, Intraco Refueling Station Plc.
He said, the way our country is progressing, there was criticism when CNG was given in cars. But now there is no more criticism about that CNG. Here too, first there is criticism and then there will be no more.
CNG is another form of natural gas which is lighter in weight than air compressed by pressure, liquefied and stored in tanks. At the customer's end it will be fed back to the customer at the original condition (15 psi) from the valve to the cylinder. RC (Regulating Control Unit) has also been installed at designated customer end for this.
Sundarban Gas Company Limited and Intraco Refueling Station PLC signed the agreement on May 21 this year. Under the agreement, the company will transport Bhola's surplus 25 million cubic feet (daily) of gas in the form of CNG and supply it to the areas covered by Titas Gas. Intraco will buy at Tk. 17 per cubic meter and sell at Tk. 47.60 per cubic meter.
Sundarban Gas Company Limited Managing Director Tofail Ahmed said at the signing ceremony, Bhola gas field has the capacity to produce 120 million cubic feet of gas per day. There is a total demand of 92.32 million cubic feet of gas from all customers. There is a surplus of 27.68 million cubic feet of gas due to lack of customers but it cannot be taken to other parts of the country due to lack of pipelines. According to Bapex's letter, Bhola's production capacity will increase further in 2024-25.