The government will invest Tk 8.1 billion in three gas projects over the next two years.
They include procuring and installing a
60-MMSCFD processing plant for Bhola North Gas Field, drilling the Rashidpur-11 exploration well in Habiganj, and running a 2D seismic survey on exploration blocks 7 and 9 in 78 upazilas of 17 districts to reduce pressure on the supply of gas and fuels.
Of the amount, Tk 5.24 billion will come from the government's own fund and Tk 2.86 billion from the funds of implementing agencies.
The Bhola plant will supply 60 MMSCF gas every day and combined extraction in the next 20 years will be 360 BCF of gas worth Tk 235.73 billion considering consumer prices.
However, the combined prices of the gas to be extracted from the plant are Tk 235.73 billion considering LNG import prices.
The three projects will be placed at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on December 23 for final approval, said officials of the planning ministry. They said the chief adviser to the interim government would head the meeting.
Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) will implement the Bhola project by December 2026, while the Rashidpur project will be implemented by July 2026 by Sylhet Gas Fields Limited (SGFL).
The main objectives of the Bhola project include enhancing gas supply to the Bhola district by processing gas from the Bhola North-1, Bhola North-2, and Elisha-1 wells.
The key components of the project are installing a 60 MMSCFD glycol dehydration processing plant in the Bhola North Gas Field; constructing an 8km, 4-inch diameter gas gathering pipeline on a turnkey basis; executing four canal crossings spanning 560 metres; as well as procurements, installations, and commissioning.
Dr Md Mustafizur Rahman, member (secretary) of the Industry and Energy Division of the Planning Commission, said the project would enable commercial extraction of gas from new fields, such as Tobgi-1, Elisha-1, and Bhola North-2, significantly boosting domestic gas supply.
This, in turn, would support the growth of local industries and reduce reliance on LNG imports, saving valuable foreign exchange, he added.
Similarly, the Rashidpur project would confirm gas reserves through the drilling of the Rashidpur-11 exploration well in Habiganj of Sylhet, he added.
This could add 29.49 BCF to the gas reserve and enable production at a rate of 10 million cubic feet per day for the first three years and 5 million cubic feet per day for the next five years, Mustafizur said.
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