Major gas transmission pipeline from Bibiyana to Gazipur planned

FE Report The government will lay a major gas transmission pipeline from the country's northeastern Bibiyana to Dhanua in Gazipur for boosting gas supply to the capital and its adjacent areas, officials said. Presided over by Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) Tuesday endorsed the pipeline project including three other schemes to be executed at a total cost of Tk 19.71 billion. Emerging from the meeting held at NEC conference room in the city, planning minister AK Khandker said the proposed gas pipeline will transmit natural gas from the northeastern fields-Bibiyana and Jalalabad-to the country's central region Dhaka. The state-owned Gas Transmission Company Ltd (GTCL) will lay the 137-kilometre 36-inch diameter gas pipeline at a cost of Tk 16.50 billion. A Petrobangla official said the country's largest gas producer Bibiyana field will supply nearly 735-million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd) to the national grid and another large field Jalalabad 150mmcfd. "Since gas production in the northeastern fields have increased over the years and existing transmission lines are insufficient to supply more, the proposed gas pipeline will ensure additional supply to the capital and its adjacent areas," he said. Installation of the Bibiyana-Dhanua gas pipeline will be completed by June 2013, the official said. The ECNEC also approved Tk 2.08 billion for road and drainage system development project of Barisal City Corporation, Tk 440 million for multi-sectoral programmes to check women repression (3rd phase) project and Tk 690 million for greater Rangpur's agriculture and rural development project. Cabinet ministers, concerned secretaries and high officials of the planning commission were present at the ECNEC meeting.