PM seeks Malaysia's support to ease energy crisis

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman talked over telephone with Malaysian premier Anwar Ibrahim and also wrote to him separately seeking cooperation to tackle the country's energy crisis, which has deepened lately.
State Minister for the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR) Anindya Islam Amit disclosed the developments while talking to journalists at his secretariat office on Tuesday.
The state minister could not provide details in which ways the cooperation will take place.
The conversation between the prime ministers of Bangladesh and Malaysia took place at a time when Bangladesh is undergoing natural gas crisis owing to abrupt shutdown of a US company-owned floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) on July 21.
Separately, the Malaysian prime minister in his verified Facebook post Tuesday stated, "We discussed various matters related to strengthening Malaysia-Bangladesh relations, particularly in the fields of energy and investment, for mutual benefit."
One of the main issues raised was the gas-supply challenge currently facing Bangladesh amid supply constraints, he stated in his status.
The phone conversation touched on LNG supply, economic cooperation, including progress in investments involving Axiata, as well as the potential for strategic collaboration with MMC Port to strengthen economic ties and open up more opportunities for both countries.
Malaysia remains committed to further strengthening the longstanding friendship with Bangladesh, based on mutual respect, pragmatic cooperation, and the determination to bring benefits to the people of both nations, the post concluded.
Talking to journalists at the secretariat, the state minister shared the government's concern over the ongoing gas shortage affecting industries, businesses, and households.
The Energy Division, Petrobangla, and RPGCL are maintaining continuous communication with Excelerate Energy, the owning company of the dysfunctional FSRU, to resolve the crisis, he said.
"Domestic and foreign experts are working tirelessly to solve the problem. "
He also informed that works were underway to explore the possibility of importing LNG from Malaysia.

Azizjst@yahoo.com