GTCL to get new compressor to ease low-pressure crisis
Thursday, 10 September 2009
The government has approved a proposal of Petrobangla to install a gas compressor station at the Gas Transmission Company Ltd (GTCL) system by the US-based oil and gas company Chevron, reports BSS.
"To ease the gas pressure problem in Dhaka city and its adjoining areas, the energy ministry has endorsed our proposal. Chevron will install the compressor under PSC agreement," said Petrobangla acting chairman Muktadir Ali Tuesday.
According to the energy ministry, the Prime Minister, also in charge of the energy ministry, approved the US$52.7 million project. Earlier, the energy ministry sent the file to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for final approval.
The Petrobangla chairman said the compressor station at the GTCL system would be installed at Muchi's location in Block 12 that would increase gas flow of 50-60 mmcfd, Muktadir said.
Under article 12.4 of the PSC for block 12, Chevron and GTCL could run the compressor station and after the cost recovery it would be handed over to the GTCL, he added.
To ease the gas pressure problem in Ghorashal and Ashuganj and Joydevpur gate, Petrobangla sources said, the local and international consultants suggested Petrobangla to install a gas compressor at Muchi point, but it was not materialised.
"The low pressure in the system has created serious problems for the power plants and industries, as they are getting gas without adequate pressure, which dose not make any sense although they are paying huge bills," the Petrobangla chairman said.
"However, they will get rid of this situation after installation of the compressor," he added.
Meanwhile, another UNB report adds, the country's gas production was increased by about 206 mmcfd in last nine months, official sources said.
Despite the increase in production, the current shortfall in gas supply is still more than 300 mmcfd, which implies a lot more needs to be done to give a relief to the sufferers.
According to official sources in Petrobangla, gas production was increased by 40mmcfd in the last one month and that additional supply was provided to the Ghorasal urea fertiliser factory.
The sources said the country's gas production reached 1,971 mmcfd in September from 1,765 mmcfd in January this year. For the last one week, the country on average has been producing 1,971 mmcfd against a demand of more than 2,200 mmcfd.
The Petrobangla chairman said the increase of 206 mmcfd gas took place mainly because of production enhancement in gasfields in Sylhet region. Bibiyana and Jalalabad played a significant role in augmenting the country's total gas production.
Additional 100 mmcfd gas came from Bibiyana field while 40 mmcfd came from Jalalabad field. Apart from this, some other fields of Petrobangla also contributed to this production increase, he said.
Petrobangla's official record shows the country's gas production was raised to 1,845 mmcfd in February 2009, 1,876 mmcfd in March, 1,892 mmcfd in April, 1,866 mmcfd in May, 1,914 mmcfd in June, 1,922 mmcfd in July, 1,932 mmcfd in August and then 1971 mmcfd in September 2009.
But despite this production enhancement, a big gap in demand-supply of gas is persisting that tremendously hampers the production in power, fertiliser and other industries. Domestic consumers are also suffering in different areas for short supply and low pressure in supply.
"To ease the gas pressure problem in Dhaka city and its adjoining areas, the energy ministry has endorsed our proposal. Chevron will install the compressor under PSC agreement," said Petrobangla acting chairman Muktadir Ali Tuesday.
According to the energy ministry, the Prime Minister, also in charge of the energy ministry, approved the US$52.7 million project. Earlier, the energy ministry sent the file to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for final approval.
The Petrobangla chairman said the compressor station at the GTCL system would be installed at Muchi's location in Block 12 that would increase gas flow of 50-60 mmcfd, Muktadir said.
Under article 12.4 of the PSC for block 12, Chevron and GTCL could run the compressor station and after the cost recovery it would be handed over to the GTCL, he added.
To ease the gas pressure problem in Ghorashal and Ashuganj and Joydevpur gate, Petrobangla sources said, the local and international consultants suggested Petrobangla to install a gas compressor at Muchi point, but it was not materialised.
"The low pressure in the system has created serious problems for the power plants and industries, as they are getting gas without adequate pressure, which dose not make any sense although they are paying huge bills," the Petrobangla chairman said.
"However, they will get rid of this situation after installation of the compressor," he added.
Meanwhile, another UNB report adds, the country's gas production was increased by about 206 mmcfd in last nine months, official sources said.
Despite the increase in production, the current shortfall in gas supply is still more than 300 mmcfd, which implies a lot more needs to be done to give a relief to the sufferers.
According to official sources in Petrobangla, gas production was increased by 40mmcfd in the last one month and that additional supply was provided to the Ghorasal urea fertiliser factory.
The sources said the country's gas production reached 1,971 mmcfd in September from 1,765 mmcfd in January this year. For the last one week, the country on average has been producing 1,971 mmcfd against a demand of more than 2,200 mmcfd.
The Petrobangla chairman said the increase of 206 mmcfd gas took place mainly because of production enhancement in gasfields in Sylhet region. Bibiyana and Jalalabad played a significant role in augmenting the country's total gas production.
Additional 100 mmcfd gas came from Bibiyana field while 40 mmcfd came from Jalalabad field. Apart from this, some other fields of Petrobangla also contributed to this production increase, he said.
Petrobangla's official record shows the country's gas production was raised to 1,845 mmcfd in February 2009, 1,876 mmcfd in March, 1,892 mmcfd in April, 1,866 mmcfd in May, 1,914 mmcfd in June, 1,922 mmcfd in July, 1,932 mmcfd in August and then 1971 mmcfd in September 2009.
But despite this production enhancement, a big gap in demand-supply of gas is persisting that tremendously hampers the production in power, fertiliser and other industries. Domestic consumers are also suffering in different areas for short supply and low pressure in supply.