Gas Gap Grows: Experts Urge Domestic Exploration as Crisis Looms

With the country facing a mounting energy crisis, energy expert Ijaz Hossain has stressed that there is no alternative to intensifying domestic gas exploration. “We must bring in foreign experts and conduct uninterrupted exploration for at least three years,” he said during a seminar titled “Energy Security of the Country: Challenges and Future Path—Role of the Media,” held on Tuesday, July 29, at Petro Center in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka.

Currently, Bangladesh faces a daily gas demand of around 4,500 million cubic feet (mmcf), but supply stands at only 2,700 mmcf. Petrobangla is under pressure to meet the growing demand, and multiple price adjustments have already been made. Questions have also been raised about the government’s financial ability to sustain expensive LNG imports.

Four years ago, the country was producing 2,500 mmcf of gas domestically. That number has now fallen to 1,800 mmcf per day, supplemented by 1,000 mmcf of imported LNG. However, there is currently no infrastructure in place to support increased LNG imports.

In his keynote presentation, Ijaz Hossain highlighted that gas supply reached 2,660 mmcf in FY 2016–17 but has since declined to 1,800 mmcf. “To address the immediate crisis, increasing LNG imports is an option, but acquiring the necessary U.S. dollars is a major challenge,” he said. “In parallel, we must accelerate BAPEX’s efforts. Given their current workload, hiring foreign experts for long-term exploration is vital.”

Looking ahead to 2030, Hossain projected that gas demand would hit 4,600 mmcf. Of this, 2,000 mmcf is expected from local fields, and 1,100 mmcf from two LNG terminals. He noted that enhancing the capacity of these terminals could yield another 100 mmcf. Additionally, constructing at least two new terminals could help supply the remaining 1,130 mmcf.

Mohammad Shoeb, Director (PSC) of Petrobangla, said that a previous offshore bidding round saw six companies purchase tender documents, but none submitted bids. A committee was formed to investigate the reasons, and its report is under review. Petrobangla is also working on a Model PSC 2025 to revamp onshore exploration.

Petrobangla Chairman Rezanur Rahman stated that alongside expanded drilling in Bhola, they are initiating deep drilling operations. “Four wells are planned, and agreements for two have already been signed. While BAPEX has a heavy workload, our focus remains on exploration and reducing system loss,” he added.

Several other presentations were made by Petrobangla officials, including Director (Finance) A.K.M. Mizanur Rahman, Director (Operation) Rafiqul Islam, Director (PSC) Mohammad Shoeb, and Director (Planning) Abdul Mannan Patwary. Additional remarks came from Shamim Jahangir, Chairman of the Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB), and its Executive Director Serajul Islam Siraj.

Meanwhile, at a focus group discussion titled “Enhancing Energy Efficiency in Bangladesh’s Industrial Sector” held on July 28 at the DCCI auditorium in Motijheel, DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed stressed that production disruptions and reduced competitiveness stem from inconsistent energy supply. He emphasized the need for behavioral change in energy use and called for regular energy audits and “industry mapping,” including the integration of educational institutions into sector-specific research.

At the event jointly organized by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), SANEM Executive Director Dr. Selim Raihan pointed out that Bangladesh still lacks a clear national policy on energy efficiency. He called for implementation monitoring of existing master plans, increased technical capacity, and clarity in the definition of energy terms.

Mohammad Wahid Hossain, Chairman of the Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council (BEPRC), said that gaps in public access to government data and services must be addressed. He highlighted growing financial capacity in the private sector and encouraged its involvement in research to enhance technological development and public awareness.

Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, Additional Secretary (Operations) of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, noted that while the government provides LNG subsidies, greater public awareness could help save 5–15% of energy consumption. He also advocated for the broader use of renewable sources, especially solar power.

BAPEX General Manager Engineer Mohammad Ahsanul Amin announced that 100 new wells are planned for drilling by 2030 to enhance supply.

Inam ul Haque Khan, Senior Vice President of BGMEA, said that the Gazipur industrial zone suffers from 6–8 hours of daily load shedding, costing factories an extra BDT 400,000–500,000 per day. “By increasing renewable energy use by just 10%, we could save 220 MW of electricity,” he added.

SANEM’s presentation also highlighted the current state of energy efficiency in the industrial sector, including inconsistent supply, lack of standardized measurements, and insufficient use of technology.