Gas supply situation to improve by 2013: Muhith
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
FE Report
Finance Minister A M A Muhith Monday said the country's present natural gas supply shortage situation will improve by 2013 with the implementation of the government's ongoing development projects.
"We are now running with natural gas shortage, as we don't have sufficient gas supply to meet the mounting demand," he said.
But efforts are there to augment gas supply, import liquefied natural gas (LNG), and construct new gas pipelines to cope with the growing demand.
The finance minister was speaking at a deal signing ceremony over construction of 36-inch diameter and 137-kilometre Bibiyana-Dhanua gas transmission pipeline at a city hotel Monday. It was followed by media briefing.
The state-owned Gas Transmission Company Ltd (GTCL) awarded the Tk 16.50-billion-cost project to Man Industries (India) Ltd to supply line pipes for the project. Speaking on the occasion the finance minister said the country's power and energy sector was in disarray for long.
"But the incumbent government has moved to resolve the crisis," he said.
Justifying the government's move to diversify energy source by augmenting use of liquid fuel, Muhith said it was necessary to ensure the country's future energy security.
He, however, said coal-based project, be it with imported or local coal, was time-consuming.
Renewable energy will contribute around 250 megawatts (mw) of electricity within the next two to three years, Muhith added. The Bibiyana-Dhanua pipeline will help expand gas supply to the country's southern and western regions, said Prime Minister's Adviser on Energy Issues Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury.
The lone state-run hydrocarbon exploration company - Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (Bapex) - has been strengthened to carry out necessary oil and gas explorations, he said.
"The pipeline will be used to transmit additional gas, to be produced by the US oil firm Chevron at Bibiyana and Jalalabad gas-fields as well as by the potential new gas reserve at Sunetra," Petrobangla Chairman Dr Hussain Monsur said.
The new pipeline, with a capacity of transmitting 850 mmcft, will ensure additional gas supply to Dhaka and the country's western regions, he said. Chairman of Man Industries Ramesh Chandra Mansukhani gave assurance to supply line pipes timely for completion of the project.
Man Industries chief of marketing Sanjiv Dheer inked the deal on behalf of the Indian firm, while GTCL secretary Mohammad Yunus and project director Mahmud Khan signed on behalf of GTCL.
Finance Minister A M A Muhith Monday said the country's present natural gas supply shortage situation will improve by 2013 with the implementation of the government's ongoing development projects.
"We are now running with natural gas shortage, as we don't have sufficient gas supply to meet the mounting demand," he said.
But efforts are there to augment gas supply, import liquefied natural gas (LNG), and construct new gas pipelines to cope with the growing demand.
The finance minister was speaking at a deal signing ceremony over construction of 36-inch diameter and 137-kilometre Bibiyana-Dhanua gas transmission pipeline at a city hotel Monday. It was followed by media briefing.
The state-owned Gas Transmission Company Ltd (GTCL) awarded the Tk 16.50-billion-cost project to Man Industries (India) Ltd to supply line pipes for the project. Speaking on the occasion the finance minister said the country's power and energy sector was in disarray for long.
"But the incumbent government has moved to resolve the crisis," he said.
Justifying the government's move to diversify energy source by augmenting use of liquid fuel, Muhith said it was necessary to ensure the country's future energy security.
He, however, said coal-based project, be it with imported or local coal, was time-consuming.
Renewable energy will contribute around 250 megawatts (mw) of electricity within the next two to three years, Muhith added. The Bibiyana-Dhanua pipeline will help expand gas supply to the country's southern and western regions, said Prime Minister's Adviser on Energy Issues Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury.
The lone state-run hydrocarbon exploration company - Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (Bapex) - has been strengthened to carry out necessary oil and gas explorations, he said.
"The pipeline will be used to transmit additional gas, to be produced by the US oil firm Chevron at Bibiyana and Jalalabad gas-fields as well as by the potential new gas reserve at Sunetra," Petrobangla Chairman Dr Hussain Monsur said.
The new pipeline, with a capacity of transmitting 850 mmcft, will ensure additional gas supply to Dhaka and the country's western regions, he said. Chairman of Man Industries Ramesh Chandra Mansukhani gave assurance to supply line pipes timely for completion of the project.
Man Industries chief of marketing Sanjiv Dheer inked the deal on behalf of the Indian firm, while GTCL secretary Mohammad Yunus and project director Mahmud Khan signed on behalf of GTCL.