Anisul Islam Noor :
The businessmen welcomed the government’s plan to allow private sector to import LNG, regasify and sell it to consumers under a specific policy.
Elaborating the government’s plan, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told the reporter adding that the private sector would be allowed to build LNG import terminal, if necessary, to facilitate business.
A policy will be formulated soon to ease such business in the country, he said.The businessmen and economists hail the plan of opening the import of LNG to the private sector, enabling them to sell the fuel to clients of their choice.
They also said, it is a good news for those investors who were frustrated for not getting gas connection despite development of industrial infrastructure.
A lawmaker for three straight terms since 2008, Nasrul Hamid has been serving as a state minister holding the same portfolio for two consecutive terms since 2014.
The minister said that they would also be allowed to supply their regasified LNG through state-run national gas grid against payment of wheeling charges.
The regasified LNG would be used to feed sectors like industries, power and fertiliser plants, it said.
The government focusing supply of available energy to keep the country’s financial growth in upward stand, sources said.
Bangladesh started importing LNG since April 24, 2018, with the arrival of US giant Excelerate Energy’s “Excellence” with 136,000 cubic metres of lean LNG from Qatar at Moheshkhali Island terminal.
The Petrobangla, however, started imports from Qatar’s RasGas regularly since September 09 after successfully feeding regasified LNG to consumers from August 18.
Currently, some 300 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of regasified LNG is being supplied to the national grid to feed consumers based in Chattogram city.
Bangladesh will need to import around 30 million tonnes of LNG per year to meet the growing local demand by 2041 as domestic gas reserves are depleting fast.
This was disclosed by a recent report prepared by Copenhagen-based research firm Ramboll in association with Geological Survey of Denmark.
