The second ship carrying 1.38 lakh cubic metre liquefied natural gas (LNG) is scheduled to anchor in the Bay of Bengal on September 9, reports BSS.

“The second LNG laden vessel is scheduled to anchor the floating storage re-gasification unit (FSRU) terminal located at offshore of the Moheshkhali Island on September 9,” State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told the news agency yesterday.

He said the government has already imported around 1, 36,000 cubic metre LNG to meet the country’s growing energy demand, adding, “The imported LNG will be supplied to Chattagram area and this will increase the gas pressure in the capital city.”

According to a ministry official, 100 mmcfd has been supplied to Karnaphuli Gas Distribution and Transmission Company from August 18 through the national grid to meet Chattagram’s energy demand.

He said the first consignment of LNG would be supplied to the national grid till September 9 and another vessel having around 1, 38,000 cubic metre LNG would start supplying from September 9.

The government is importing the LNG from Qatar state run RasGas company as the Petrobangla signed a long-term agreement with Qatar to import up to 2.8 million tonnes of LNG per annum.

“The present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s vision is to ensure energy security in the country with a view to turn Bangladesh into a Sonar Bangla as well as middle income country,” said Nasrul Hamid.

He said the government has installed 91 km pipelines from Moheshkhali to Anwara in Chattagram and a 30-km pipeline from Karnaphuli to Sitakunda.  Currently, the Petrobangla supplies approximately 2,750 million cubic feet of natural gas a day from domestic gas fields against a demand for at least 3,500 million cubic feet gas.

Talking to BSS, a gas user in the city said many factories were forced to close due to lack of adequate gas supply during the BNP-Jamaat regime. With the import of LNG, closed factories will reopen and setting up of new ones will get momentum, he said.