Energy security is a critical determinant of the country's pace of economic development that will matter most for it to attain the targeted middle-income status by the year 2021. At a time when investors are wary of setting up industries due to severe shortage of gas supplies leading to rationing of fast depleting reserves, the discovery of the 26th gas field at Rupganj in Narayanganj is certainly a welcome development. The state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (BAPEX) has discovered the new gas field in Rupganj having a recoverable reserve of around 50 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of the fossil fuel. It is a discovery of the 'small' but commercially viable natural gas reserve. The commercial production of natural gas from this new field is expected to begin within the next three to four months, upon installation of necessary pipeline and establishment of a process plant. The consumers in Dhaka and its adjoining areas, who face severe problems of gas supplies, would, as the reports said, be benefited from the newfound gas.
The Bangladesh economy has been growing at an annual average rate of 6.0 per cent since 2003, outpacing energy supply. An aspired higher rate of growth to hasten the process of Bangladesh's graduation from its current status of a least developed country (LDC) would require finding more and more sources of energy. The constraints relating to supplies of energy had earlier forced Petrobangla to ration new gas connections to gas-guzzling industries, power plants, fertiliser factories and households. The new gas field and discovery of more such reserve will surely help ensure the country's energy security.
Bangladesh's main non-renewable resources are natural gas and coal. Natural gas accounts for the bulk of its current level of commercial energy use. The potential for exploitation of its coal reserve could not be harnessed for a variety of factors. And its existing natural gas resources are being fast exhausted in the absence of any new major discoveries in the recent past. Per capita electricity consumption in Bangladesh stands now at one of the lowest levels in the world. In view of the growing mismatch between demand for, and supply of, natural gas, the country's priority for exploration of gas in its different areas is quite obvious.
Meanwhile, several studies have shown that energy savings to a substantial extent are possible in some applications. The Second National Communication - the compulsory reporting to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - conducted by the ministry of environment and forests has shown that the old gas-based steam power plants and the urea fertiliser plants have the highest potential for improvements in efficiency of energy use because these are in the worst condition. In the private industries, most of the gas-fired boilers are old and inefficient, and waste heat from captive generators is mostly not utilised. The electric motors that are now imported, are reportedly of inferior specification. Additionally, when motors burn out, these are rewound in roadside workshops, a practice which leads to further lowering in efficiency. Moreover, there is a large-scale misuse of gas in households due to absence of meter system.
The issue of energy security has not yet received enough importance in Bangladesh. Pakistan has planned for a 30-year period of energy security while India has planned for 50 years. The Bangladesh authorities have left this vital subject to an unknown future for all practical purposes. All these issues need to be dealt with, on an urgent basis.
Discovery of new gas field and energy security
FE Team | Published: June 25, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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