Anisul Islam Noor :
Bangladesh has found 600 billion cubic feet of natural gas in a new field in its southern district of Bhola, Cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam told reporters at Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday.
The news came at a time when the country faces a severe gas crisis and the government concentrating on import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet current gas deficit.
It would be the 27th gas reserve in the country. In Bhola, this would contribute to the total 1.5 trillion cubic feet (TCF) gas that it holds, the cabinet secretary said without specifying any further.
Currently, the households are complaining of dwindling gas supplies and businesses doing the same. However, LNG import is expected to start off this year, which might drive gas prices further up for commercial and domestic use.
Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (BAPEX) has expressed the hope for natural gas at Bheduria union of Bhola.
Bhola North-1, an exploratory well, appears to be a new hub but more tests need to be done in order to confirm, an official said.
BAPEX started digging the well in December last year, said Md Hasanuzzaman, deputy general manager of Shahbazpur gas field.
The data and evidence gathered so far suggest the presence of gas but more tests need to be done, sources said.
Bheduria appears to be a new gas field, some 600 billion cubic feet gas is reserved in the new well, said Nazimuddin Chowdhury Energy Division Secretary.
BAPEX started drilling the Shahbazpur East-1 gas well in Bhola in November last year. The well has around 720 billion cubic feet gas in reserve, according to sources.
A total of 1.5 trillion cubic feet gas is reserved in Bhola, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Monday’s cabinet meeting. Bhola North-1 appears to be the 27th gas field, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said.
The proven reserves of the 26 gas fields in Bangladesh stand at 13.6 trillion cubic feet, according to state-owned oil and gas corporation — Petrobangla.
Bangladesh produces 2.7 billion cubic feet natural gas a day, against demand for 3.4 billion cubic feet. Bangladesh has three million customers.
More than 58 percent of gas is used by power plants, 17 percent by factories, 11 percent by household users, 7 percent by fertilizer manufacturers and 6 percent by automobiles.
Bangladesh has found 600 billion cubic feet of natural gas in a new field in its southern district of Bhola, Cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam told reporters at Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday.
The news came at a time when the country faces a severe gas crisis and the government concentrating on import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet current gas deficit.
It would be the 27th gas reserve in the country. In Bhola, this would contribute to the total 1.5 trillion cubic feet (TCF) gas that it holds, the cabinet secretary said without specifying any further.
Currently, the households are complaining of dwindling gas supplies and businesses doing the same. However, LNG import is expected to start off this year, which might drive gas prices further up for commercial and domestic use.
Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (BAPEX) has expressed the hope for natural gas at Bheduria union of Bhola.
Bhola North-1, an exploratory well, appears to be a new hub but more tests need to be done in order to confirm, an official said.
BAPEX started digging the well in December last year, said Md Hasanuzzaman, deputy general manager of Shahbazpur gas field.
The data and evidence gathered so far suggest the presence of gas but more tests need to be done, sources said.
Bheduria appears to be a new gas field, some 600 billion cubic feet gas is reserved in the new well, said Nazimuddin Chowdhury Energy Division Secretary.
BAPEX started drilling the Shahbazpur East-1 gas well in Bhola in November last year. The well has around 720 billion cubic feet gas in reserve, according to sources.
A total of 1.5 trillion cubic feet gas is reserved in Bhola, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Monday’s cabinet meeting. Bhola North-1 appears to be the 27th gas field, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said.
The proven reserves of the 26 gas fields in Bangladesh stand at 13.6 trillion cubic feet, according to state-owned oil and gas corporation — Petrobangla.
Bangladesh produces 2.7 billion cubic feet natural gas a day, against demand for 3.4 billion cubic feet. Bangladesh has three million customers.
More than 58 percent of gas is used by power plants, 17 percent by factories, 11 percent by household users, 7 percent by fertilizer manufacturers and 6 percent by automobiles.
