Gas crisis in Ctg as LNG supply drops

Many places in Chattogram have been experiencing a severe gas shortage from 9:00am to 3:00pm for the past two days due to low gas supply from the LNG Terminal in Moheskhali, Cox's Bazar.

The status quo may persist until December, according to Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) officials.

Manik Mia, a private car driver, was seen waiting for hours in a long queue at the Intraco CNG Filling Station in the Tigerpass area today.

"Before coming here, I went to two other filling stations, but couldn't find gas anywhere. I experienced a similar situation Saturday," he said.

Due to the gas supply interruption from 9:00am, residents flocked to hotels and restaurants to purchase food. Shaila Binte Hosain, a homemaker in Khulshi Residential area, said gas supply was unavailable from 9:00am to 3:00pm, and supply resumed in a limited scale afterwards.

Contacted, KGDCL General Manager Engineer Md Shafiul Alam Azam Khan said the gas supply disruption is a result of receiving 280 million cubic feet (mmcfd) of gas per day from the LNG Terminal in Moheshkhali, which falls short of the daily demand of 312 mmcft.

Of this, 90 mmcfd gas goes to two fertiliser factories, 37 mmcfd to a power plant, and 12 mmcfd is allocated to filling stations. The remaining gas is utilised to meet the demands of residential areas and commercial clients.

Seeking anonymity, an official from Petro Bangla, stationed at Moheshkhali LNG Terminal, said while the terminal had been supplying 750 mmcfd of gas, it has now decreased to 600 mmcfd since Saturday. This reduction is due to a slight crisis in the current LNG stock, as adjustments are made to maintain a balance with the next scheduled supply.