Govt plans to drill 19 more gas wells in Bhola by 2028

BHOLA, Nov 1 (BSS): Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan on Friday said the government has a plan to drill 19 more natural gas wells in Bhola by 2028 as part of intensifying the country's gas production efforts.

"As part of our plan, we will drill five gas wells in the district by 2025 and 14 more by 2028," he said while visiting the Ilisha-1 gas field in Bhola, reports BSS.

The adviser said, "There is a shortage of gas in the country. As a result, huge amounts of foreign currency have to be spent on importing gas. Now we need 4,000 mmcfd of gas, but we are getting only 2,000 mmcfd."

"We are currently importing gas from various countries by spending huge amounts of foreign currencies. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is being imported annually at a cost of Tk 60 billion (Tk 6,000 crore) to meet the shortfall. Efforts are underway to develop new gas fields and move towards gas production," he added.

Fouzul said no project would be taken without open competition from now on and the work would be awarded to the bidder who would submit the best proposal through open tender. Later, expert committee opinions would be taken in this regard, he added.

"We have taken up all the big projects. But people's priorities were not given importance in this regard. So corruption has increased in such projects. We want to focus on people's needs," Fouzul said.

Speaking about the demand for gas supply to every household, he said the matter would be considered subject to increase in gas supply in future. "Since I will not do politics, I will not give people any false assurance."

The adviser assured to solve Bhola's electricity problem and establish gas-based factories in the district.

During the daylong visit in the coastal district, he visited Shahbazpur, Bhola North-1, Bhola North-2, and Ilisha-1 gas fields in Borhanuddin upazila. He also visited gas-based Bhola 225 MW and 220 MW combined cycle power plants in Borhanuddin.

Energy Secretary Mohammad Saiful Islam, Petrobangla Chairman Zanendra Nath Sarker, Bhola Deputy Commissioner Md Azad Jahan, and senior officials were present, among others.