Setting of LNG (Liquidified Natural Gas) transmission line from Maheshkhali (via Chattogram) to Dhaka has been completed. Joint Secretary of Energy Division Nazmul Ahsan told barta24.com that the service of imported gas transmission is ready and it may begin any day.
It is possible to supply 800 million CFT gases daily through its 36 inches diameter transmission line. Now the quantity of gas supply will depend on the demand of the Dhaka region. The Energy Davison is feeling contended at the completion of pipeline work for Dhaka and Chottogram. Now if demand increases the supply would increase. Due to gas crisis in the past there was a system of rationing. Particularly the CNG filling stations were shut down during peak hours. However, there is a matter of concern that the old pipe lines around Dhaka city whether can take load of the pressure of the new supply. So these lines will be tested gradually increasing the pressure.
For supplying gas two floating storage and re-gasification units (FSRU) were set up much ago. The units are capable to transmit 1000 million CFT gas daily. The LNG after importing would be converted to gas here. That converted gas would be transmitted to Chattogram and Dhaka.
Government inked a deal for 15 years with Qatar for importing LNG in 2017. Under the deal there is a plan to import 18 lakh to 25 lakh metric tons of gas from Qatar. Bangladesh received the first consignment of gas on July 24 of 2018. On the other hand another separate deal was signed with Oman to import LNG. The duration of this deal is also of 15 years but the quantity of annual import is 10 to 15 lakh metric tons. In 2020 government has taken an initiative to import LNG from spot market. For this purpose government signed deals with 17 organizations.
Work on land based terminal is going on at Matarbari of Chattogram along side floating terminals at Maheshkhali. At Matarbari there will be a gas storage tank with the capacity 35 lakh metric tons. There will be a tank yard on 43 hectares of land. If the terminal setting project at Mongla (under feasibility study) is not possible then the capacity of increasing Matarbari storage is under active consideration of the government. 12 organizations responded when tenders were floated for Mongla project. Meanwhile 5 organizations have been short listed.
A pre- feasibility study is going on for setting up of a LNG terminal at Mongla. However, there is a problem of navigability which is a bar for entering big tankers. Other matters are under study that whether how far it will be economically viable if the navigability can be increased through dredging. As an alternative LNG import from Orissa is under the active consideration of the government.
Natural gas remains in gaseous form under normal pressure and temperature. The gas becomes liquid if the temperature is brought down under minus 160 degree Celsius through technology. Then it is called Liquidified Natural Gas or LNG. Government took the initiatives to import LNG when the country’s gas reserve started decreasing. The Energy Division thinks that due to import of LNG, the gas crisis in the industrial belts of Dhaka and Chattogram will be solved.