Falling gas production

Once more, the country faces a sudden gas crisis, as three gas fields were shut down due to technical glitches resulting in production to come down from 2750 mmcf (million cubic feet) to 2690 mmcf. Of these three gas fields, Rupganj was shut down only six months after it started production. Moreover, the recent discovery in Shabazpur will not benefit the general consumer in any way, as it has no grid connection with the mainland. With the winter season knocking at our doors the situation is indisputably to get worse.

However, authorities concerned have fallen short of expedient coping strategies to deal with the continuing crisis. Also the reparative measures to respond to it are still fairly unclear. We are afraid if it continues in this manner, the crisis will likely affect ordinary consumers and the industrial sector hard.

Long-term solutions like exploring for untapped sources in the offshore, newer and alternate pipelines, increase in supply, etc. are time consuming resolutions, but the continuing acute shortage needs to be effectively handled with temporary supply arrangements. However, in the face of severe constraints, one is expected to act promptly by prioritising tasks as according to their levels of importance. It means the gas supplied to the industrial sector will have to be accordingly balanced with the domestic sector’s supply.

It’s up to the authorities to decide how to strike this balance between the two. But that striking the balance will have to be made quickly, in order to avoid further unexpected dilemmas. Though the government continues to walk in the path of encouraging the use of bottled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in households by reducing its pricing further but the coping measure would only address a fraction of the ongoing crisis.

Given the facts, it is high time for the authorities to sit with stakeholders and find a way out. Importing furnace oil under the given conditions may also be discussed in details to see how far that might be a feasible option vis-à-vis other options to overcome the crisis. Finally, the need of the hour is to start considering renewable energy as a potentially major national power source.

Falling gas production

Once more, the country faces a sudden gas crisis, as three gas fields were shut down due to technical glitches resulting in production to come down from 2750 mmcf (million cubic feet) to 2690 mmcf. Of these three gas fields, Rupganj was shut down only six months after it started production. Moreover, the recent discovery in Shabazpur will not benefit the general consumer in any way, as it has no grid connection with the mainland. With the winter season knocking at our doors the situation is indisputably to get worse. However, authorities concerned have fallen short of expedient coping strategies to deal with the continuing crisis. Also the reparative measures to respond to it are still fairly unclear. We are afraid if it continues in this manner, the crisis will likely affect ordinary consumers and the industrial sector hard. Long-term solutions like exploring for untapped sources in the offshore, newer and alternate pipelines, increase in supply, etc. are time consuming resolutions, but the continuing acute shortage needs to be effectively handled with temporary supply arrangements. However, in the face of severe constraints, one is expected to act promptly by prioritising tasks as according to their levels of importance. It means the gas supplied to the industrial sector will have to be accordingly balanced with the domestic sectors supply. Its up to the authorities to decide how to strike this balance between the two. But that striking the balance will have to be made quickly, in order to avoid further unexpected dilemmas. Though the government continues to walk in the path of encouraging the use of bottled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in households by reducing its pricing further but the coping measure would only address a fraction of the ongoing crisis. Given the facts, it is high time for the authorities to sit with stakeholders and find a way out. Importing furnace oil under the given conditions may also be discussed in details to see how far that might be a feasible option vis--vis other options to overcome the crisis. Finally, the need of the hour is to start considering renewable energy as a potentially major national power source.