Severe gas crisis grip Ctg; industrial consumers hit hard
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Severe gas crisis has gripped the port city of Chittagong, with industrial, commercial and domestic consumers hit hard, reports UNB.
According to sources, state-owned Petrobangla can supply only 171 million cubic feet (mmcf) of gas a day against the demand for 320 mmcf.
At present, the country produces about 1,600 mmcfd of gas against the demand of over 1,800 mmcfd.
The port city has a number of bulk consumers and of them Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited (CUFL) consumes 52 mmcfd, KAFCO 65 mmcfd, Rauzan Power Plant 82 mmcfd and Shikalbaha Power Plant 2 mmcfd. The domestic consumers of the port city need about 10 mmcfd of gas.
Besides, there are three export processing zones (EPZs) that consume huge amount of natural gas.
Like the industrial and domestic consumers, seven CNG stations in the port city are also facing severe gas shortage, forcing the CNG-run vehicles to wait in long queues for hours for refilling.
Some 110 more CNG stations are also waiting to have gas supply to go into operation.
Sources said the gas shortage in Chittagong has been acute after the production decreased in Sangu gas field, which is the main source of gas supply.
According to sources, state-owned Petrobangla can supply only 171 million cubic feet (mmcf) of gas a day against the demand for 320 mmcf.
At present, the country produces about 1,600 mmcfd of gas against the demand of over 1,800 mmcfd.
The port city has a number of bulk consumers and of them Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited (CUFL) consumes 52 mmcfd, KAFCO 65 mmcfd, Rauzan Power Plant 82 mmcfd and Shikalbaha Power Plant 2 mmcfd. The domestic consumers of the port city need about 10 mmcfd of gas.
Besides, there are three export processing zones (EPZs) that consume huge amount of natural gas.
Like the industrial and domestic consumers, seven CNG stations in the port city are also facing severe gas shortage, forcing the CNG-run vehicles to wait in long queues for hours for refilling.
Some 110 more CNG stations are also waiting to have gas supply to go into operation.
Sources said the gas shortage in Chittagong has been acute after the production decreased in Sangu gas field, which is the main source of gas supply.