The Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) is set to implement two development projects worth Tk 9.11 billion to reduce import dependence by tapping into domestic mineral resources.
One project titled 'Drilling of Two Deep Exploration Wells at the Titas and Bakhrabad Gas Fields' would cost Tk 7.98 billion and the other 'Enhancement and Strengthening of Drilling Capacity of the Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB)' would require Tk 1.13 billion.
Upon successful implementation, the gas exploration project is expected to add 25 million cubic meters of gas per day (MMCFD) to the national grid, while the GSB project would boost its annual drilling capacity from two wells to six.
The government has taken the initiative to explore domestic energy resources amid severe gas shortage in the country.
It has long been trying to partly meet the growing demand for energy by importing expensive liquefied natural gas (LNG), mounting pressure on the foreign exchange reserves.
Officials at the Planning Ministry said the Industry and Energy Division of the Planning Commission has completed necessary preparations to place the projects before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for final approval.
These two initiatives are among 16 development projects scheduled for discussion at the upcoming Ecnec meeting scheduled on Sunday next, to be chaired by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
The drilling of deep exploration wells project aims to enhance gas production by drilling two wells - Titas-31 and Bakhrabad-11 - at a vertical depth of around 5,600 metres (±100 metres) in the respective gas fields.
The projects also seek to confirm the presence of gas, expand production capacity, and explore potential reserves at depths ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 metres in Bangladesh's onshore areas.
Once completed, the initiative is expected to add 25 MMCFD to the national grid - 10 MMCFD from the Titas field and 15 MMCFD from the Bakhrabad field.
Meanwhile, the EMRD has proposed another project aimed at enhancing and strengthening the drilling capacity of the Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB).
The project includes the procurement of drilling rigs, mud pumps, generators, cranes, and other essential equipment, along with borehole logging units and related physical instruments.
It also features a training component to build the capacity of GSB personnel and improve the overall efficiency of drilling operations.
The project will include a provision for drilling a trial exploratory well to test the efficiency and performance of the machinery and equipment to be procured under the initiative.
According to the EMRD, the Bangladesh Geological Survey (GSB) conducts geo-scientific research and explores non-oil and gas resources.
GSB currently has four drilling rigs for shallow to medium-depth operations, but only one is functional; the others are heavily damaged and would be expensive to repair.
The proposed project aims to equip GSB with modern machinery, enabling deeper and more efficient drilling, especially in previously inaccessible areas, boosting the chances of discovering new mineral resources.
Dr. Md. Mustafizur Rahman, former Member of the Industry and Energy Division and currently serving as a Member of the Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institutions Division of the Planning Commission, presided over the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting to review the proposal.
He said the implementation of the project would enable the GSB to drill six wells per year, a significant increase from its current capacity of two.
The new equipment to be procured under the project would also allow drilling at greater depths than is currently possible. For these reasons, the project has been recommended for final approval by the Ecnec.
jahid.rn@gmail.com
© 2025 - All Rights with The Financial Express
