Due to the gas crisis, the suffering is getting worse and worse all over the country. Motorcyclists are not getting gas even after standing at CNG stations for hours. And many CNG stations have to be closed due to lack of gas. Moreover, the lack of gas is disrupting industrial production in various factories. Residents are not getting gas either.
In the existing situation, many people have started using LPG as an alternative to natural gas. This information is known from the sources of Petrobangla and the victims.
According to sources concerned, there was already a shortage of natural gas due to reduced production. Recently, after the closure of Cox's Bazar's LNG regasification terminal, the gas crisis has increased. And it has affected houses, factories and vehicles. Due to lack of gas, people are struggling to cook in different areas of the capital. Some factories have closed due to reduced gas pressure. Long queues of vehicles are seen at almost all CNG filling stations in the capital. The load-shedding situation in rural areas has also worsened due to non-supply of gas for power generation in many power plants in the country.
According to sources, the LNG regasification unit at Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar was damaged during Cyclone Remal in May. In a statement later, Summit authorities said the unit, operated by the Summit Group, has been taken to a dry dock abroad for repairs. Summit hopes to have the LNG terminal operational within three weeks. LNG comes into the country from two floating storage regasification units with a gas processing capacity of 1,100 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd). One of these is now closed, reducing supply to 600 mmcfd. Earlier, the FSRU resumed operations at the summit in mid-April after two and a half months of maintenance in Singapore. Even then the gas supply situation in the country was similar and people were suffering from gas shortage. Currently, Petrobangla is able to supply about 2,600 mmcfd against the demand of 3,800 mmcfd. On the other hand, the country's local gas production is also decreasing day by day.
Sources also said that due to severe gas shortage, many are forced to buy LP cylinders for cooking at home. Moreover, private cars and CNG-powered auto-rickshaws are waiting in long queues for gas at every CNG filling station. Drivers wait for hours to get gas. And CNG stations are saying that the gas pressure is very low. Normal gas pressure is supposed to be 15 pounds per square inch (psi), but now its two to three psi most of the day. Meanwhile, people protested around Dhaka to demand gas.
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association authorities have already sent a letter to Petrobangla for increasing gas supply in various areas including Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Gazipur, Mauna, Savar, Ashulia, Tongi, Sreepur. Due to lack of gas, production is disrupted in hundreds of factories. Many factories are closed due to lack of gas. Workers in factories have been sent on leave.
ZH
