500mmcfd LNG to be added into national grid from April 25

A total of 500 mmcfd of liquefied natural gas (LNG) would be added into the national grid from April 25, this year to meet the country's growing demand, officials said here today.

"We have signed a long-term agreement with Qatar to import up to 2.8 million tonnes of LNG per annum to ensure energy security in the country and the LNG would come in April this year," State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told BSS here today.

He said that state run Energy Company RasGas of Qatar would supply 500 mmcfd to the national grid from April 25 this year and Moheshkhali-Anwara pipeline having 30 inch diameter is already completed.

"We have also kept some other sources open for LNG import to mitigate gas crisis," the state minister said.

According to a ministry official, the floating storage refueling unit FSRU) terminal is being developed offshore the Moheshkhali Island in the Bay of Bengal by Excelerate Energy on a build, own and operate basis. Excelerate Energy would build in 18 months.

He said the government's maiden LNG import was tied up between after Petrobangla and Qatar's RasGas signed a 15-year agreement and separate deals would be signed with some state run oil companies like Oman, Indonesia and Petronas of Malaysia for LNG.

He said a process is underway for signing contract with privately owned companies including Astro Oil and Gunvor of Switzerland for LNG import, while the government has selected 30 companies for importing LNG from spot market.

According to the contract, the RasGas will supply 2.8 million tonnes of LNG every year. The demand for gas will stand at 8,000 mmcfd in 2041. 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.

Source: BSS