Bangladesh has discovered new gas reserves of approximately 700 billion cubic feet (bcf) in a field at Mollaipotton in the island district of Bhola, officials said.
"The newly discovered gas field is expected to contain nearly 700 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas," Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) Managing Director Eng Md. Nowshad Islam told the FE Monday.
This is one of the biggest discoveries by the state-owned exploration company over the last one decade, said the MD of BAPEX on an upbeat note.
After Shahbajpur gas field, it is the second discovery of much-sought-after natural gas in that island district along the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Shahbajpur field has a reserve of nearly 400bcf gas.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam disclosed the gas discovery to the press after the day's cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
BAPEX MD Mr Nowshad Islam told the FE: "We have done seismic survey. As per our plan and direction, the contractor -- Russian company Gazprom -- conducted the drilling in the gas field."
The new gas field, situated at Mollaipotton in Tobgi union under Borhanuddin upazila of Bhola, is nearly three and a half kilometres away from the existing Shahbajpur gas field.
Mr. Alam said they had plans to develop wells at Mollaipotton based on the gas demand in Bhola.
"Since there is no transmission pipeline from Bhola to remaining part of the country, we have to supply it within the island. We will sit with the gas- distribution company -- Sundarban Gas Distribution Company Limited -- to know about their future demands," he added.
The latest find will provide a little bit relief for the country's struggling gas- supply situation as energy shortages have been affecting industrial and other activities across the country for years.
Currently, all the operating gas fields together can supply nearly 2700 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd) against the demand for more than 3500mmcfd, said officials at the state-owned energy-corporation Petrobangla.
About 58 per cent of gas is used by power plants, 17 per cent by industrial units, 11 per cent by households, 7.0 per cent by fertiliser factories and another 6.0 per cent by automobiles.
To meet a mounting demand, Bangladesh has decided to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) and already started construction of terminals to receive the imports.
Currently, BAPEX operates eight gas fields including Shahbajpur, Srikail, Sundolpur, Fenchuganj and Salda and produces nearly 100mmcfd gas per day to add to the national transmission pipeline.
Meanwhile, a total of 22 gas fields are operational nationwide under three state-owned companies and two international oil companies (IOCs).
Of the total output, IOCs' contribution is the highest, around 1700mmcfd gas, and the remainder goes to the credit of local companies.
Upon resolving the maritime boundary dispute, Bangladesh sketched the deepwater map into 28 blocs to facilitate the energy-exploration work in the Bay of Bengal.
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