LNG regasification hits record high

Imports surge despite Middle East tensions, volatile global energy prices

M AZIZUR RAHMAN | Published: May 11, 2026 23:31:04

Bangladesh recorded its highest-ever liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification level on Sunday as the government ramps up imports to meet rising domestic demand despite soaring global prices and ongoing instability in the Middle East.
The record supply comes amid disruptions to global LNG shipping routes and growing concerns over cargo movement through the Strait of Hormuz, prompting authorities to rely heavily on costly spot-market purchases to maintain gas and electricity supplies.
On Sunday, state-run Petrobangla regasified around 1,075 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of LNG, the highest volume recorded since Bangladesh began importing LNG on April 24, 2018, according to official data.
The country has consistently supplied more than 1,000 mmcfd of regasified LNG (RLNG) since early May, driven by increased imports from the volatile spot market at elevated prices.
Currently, the country's two operational floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) have a combined LNG regasification capacity of around 1,100 mmcfd.
The new BNP-led government has taken steps to increase LNG imports from global suppliers to meet mounting domestic demand despite higher costs, Iqbal Hasan Mahmood, adviser to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR), told The Financial Express on Sunday.
He said the government is keen to increase gas supply to industries and power plants.
Supported by the higher volume of RLNG, the country's overall electricity generation reached 15,288 megawatts (MW) during Saturday evening's peak hours, according to official data from the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).
According to the BPDB, load-shedding was limited to only 121 MW in the Mymensingh region as gas-fired power plants received a moderate volume of gas supply amid increased LNG regasification.
Gas-fired power plants are currently receiving around 949 mmcfd of gas against an overall demand of nearly 2,524 mmcfd, according to official data.
Bangladesh's total spot-market LNG purchases this year are set to reach 22 cargoes, with 20 bought after the outbreak of the Middle East conflict.
The country is expected to purchase three spot LNG cargoes by mid-June, compared with seven cargoes each in April and May.
Bangladesh has increased spot LNG purchases since the start of the Middle East war after several long-term suppliers from Qatar and Oman declared force majeure and suspended cargo deliveries.
According to officials of Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL), Bangladesh imported a total of 49 LNG cargoes from the spot market in 2025.
Bangladesh most recently awarded three spot LNG cargoes for delivery windows on May 20-21, May 23-24 and May 26-27 to BP Singapore Pte Ltd, BGN International and Aramco Trading Singapore Pte Ltd at prices of US$16.83 per MMBtu, US$16.90 per MMBtu and US$16.90 per MMBtu respectively.
Since LNG imports began in 2018, Bangladesh has imported around 36.43 million metric tonnes of LNG through 588 cargoes as of March 2026, according to RPGCL data.
Bangladesh's total natural gas supply stood at around 2.755 billion cubic feet per day on Sunday, including 1.075 billion cubic feet per day of regasified LNG, according to official Petrobangla data.
As LNG regasification has already reached close to full capacity, the scope for further increases from the FSRUs remains limited during the coming summer months, when temperatures are expected to rise sharply, a senior official of the Power Division under the MPEMR said.
During last summer, the highest temperature recorded in Dhaka was 40.6 degrees Celsius, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
The country's highest temperature during last year's heatwave was recorded at 42.6 degrees Celsius in Jashore, according to the BMD.
Azizjst@yahoo.com