The energy ministry has set deadline until June 2019 for Titas Gas and until February for other gas marketing and distribution companies to remove illegal piped natural gas connections across the country.
The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR), in a recent directive to the gas marketing and distribution companies, also stated that the top officials of these state-run companies will be made liable, if any illegal gas connection is found after the respective deadline, a senior official told the FE on Monday.
MPEMR will issue DO (demi-official) letter to all the members of parliament (MPs) soon, seeking their support to amputate illegal gas connections across the country.
The MPEMR's move to streamline all piped natural gas connections and check pilferage came a couple of months ahead of the scheduled commissioning of the country's second liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in April.
The import of expensive LNG is expected to double from April with the commissioning of the FSRU (floating storage re-gasification unit)-based terminal.
The state-run Petrobangla also carried out a 'tough' drive against illegal gas connections in last May.
Petrobangla then announced not to approve future gas connection to any client, if found using illegal connection.
Illegal gas connections would permanently be disconnected, apart from taking legal actions against the fraudulent act, the agency stated.
However, a section of unscrupulous people are still consuming piped natural gas illegally despite the move, said a senior Petrobangla official.
Using illegal gas connections has been rampant across the country over the years. The state-run Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd (TGTDCL) has alone spotted around 1.0 million illegal gas connections recently.
Illegal gas connections have existed among almost all types of clients, including households, commercial entities, industrial units and compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations.
Meanwhile, TGTDCL will shift its gas transmission pipelines to facilitate the construction of metro-rail project. So, piped natural gas supply in many areas in the capital will remain suspended for 12 hours from 6.00 pm today (Tuesday) to 6.00 am Wednesday, according to a TGTDCL press release.
Gas supply will be suspended at Mirpur, Shyamoli, Monipuripara, Agargaon, Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, Gonobhaban, Jatiya Sangsad, Kalabagan, Hazaribag, Dhaka University, BUET, Shahbag, Green Road, all areas of Old Dhaka, Bangabhaban, Gopibag, Swamibag, Rampura, Banasree, Nandipara, Mogbazar, Siddheswari, Segunbagicha, Minto Road, Tejgaon, Khilgaon, Basabo, Motijheel, Kamalapur and the surrounding areas, it added.
On Saturday, gas supply in most areas in the capital and its adjoining areas was disrupted due to a technical glitch at Ashulia city gate station.
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