Due to a lack of adequate exploration, mineral resources of Bangladesh including oil and gas are staying untapped. Even from discovered deposits, oil and gas are not extracted appropriately. As a result, we are becoming more import-dependent in the energy sector day by day. Experts have urged us to strengthen our exploration capability further to resolve our ongoing energy crisis. They consider the discovery of crude oil reserve in a newly drilled gas well in the Sylhet-10 is a new milestone for us. This is the second time crude oil has been found in a country's gas fields after petroleum was discovered in the Haripur Gas Field in 1987.
Gas crisis is not a new problem in Bangladesh. We have for long been facing this problem. The country's industrial sector is the worst victim of this crisis. It has not only reduced production in the industrial sector, but has also created major problems for cooking in many homes. The main reason behind this is that we are now over-dependent on imported liquefied natural gas than exploring our own gas fields. According to a study, gas reserves in the country will run out within the next 11 years. In such a situation, being dependent on imported LNG is only increasing the financial burden on the exchequer. Experts believe that we have more gas reserves underground and under the sea. More exploration is needed to take advantage of this. To reduce import dependence in the energy sector, the authorities concerned should give utmost importance to the exploration process of oil and gas reserves. If it is done, we will be able to utilise our mineral resources properly.
S.M. Rahman Jiku,
Student of Chattogram College,
Chawkbazar, Chattogram,
mizanrahmanbns@gmail.com