The gas pipeline of Padma Bridge built with huge money has been kept lying idle. Transport by Padma Bridge started on from June 2022.
The construction of the gas pipeline was completed about three months ago. It was handed over to the state-owned gas transmission company Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL) in 2023.
The 762 mm gas pipeline built over the Padma Bridge has already been connected to GTCL's network. The company is also maintaining it. Now an initiative has been taken to build a 110 km long pipeline at both ends to supply gas to the southern region.
Under the plan, the pipeline will start from Langalbandh in Cumilla and reach Mawa and connect to the Padma Bridge pipeline. After crossing the bridge, the line from Jazira will go to Gopalganj through Tekerhat. According to preliminary estimates, the construction of this transmission line may cost Tk 2 thousand 360 crore. Currently GTCL is unable to raise the necessary funds despite conducting a study to implement the project. This information was known from sources related to the Energy division.
According to the relevant sources, the government wants to provide gas connection through pipelines in the south and south-western parts of the country. The main purpose is to supply gas to gas based power plants, fertilizer factories, commercial and industrial establishments. For that purpose, 6.15 km gas pipeline has been installed at Padma Bridge. The expenditure was more than Tk 274 crore. However, the pipeline is of no use as the two ends of the bridge are not connected. Rather, it has been lying idle for more than two years. Even the GTCL authorities are not able to tell any date when the work of connecting gas pipeline of Padma Bridge will start. Rather, it is being said that GTCL had sent to the Ministry for financing the project. But so far no response has been received from the ministry.
Funding is the main problem. There is no specific guidance on whether the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will finance it, or whether the Bangladesh government will do it. In such a context, it is not possible to use the gas pipeline built on the Padma Bridge. Long-term planning has to be done in the construction of Padma Bridge or such large infrastructure. This pipeline has been built so that gas can be transferred over the Padma Bridge in future. Now there will be gas transmission line from Langalbandh to Mawa, after Mawa to Padma Bridge, from Zazira to Gopalganj via Padma Bridge. The line is built over the Padma Bridge. If GTCL gets the funding or if the government gives priority to the project, the pipeline can be built soon.
According to sources, apart from the Langalbandh-Gopalganj pipeline, GTCL has five more projects under its plans to provide gas connections to the south and south-western regions of the country. Gas will be supplied to them through the Padma Bridge gas pipeline. The projects are Payra-Barishal and Barishal-Khulna transmission line, Tekerhat-Faridpur and Tekerhat-Barishal transmission line, Khulna-Gopalganj-Tekerhat transmission line, Bhola-Barishal transmission line and Satkhira-Khulna transmission line. 582 km gas transmission line will be constructed through the projects. The cost will be around Tk 9 thousand crores. Although the target is to complete them by 2034, GTCL has not yet secured funding for any of them.
Meanwhile, energy experts think, these projects of gas transmission pipelines are unreasonable and uncoordinated plans of the government. If these projects are taken around development, then these projects have to be implemented through coordination. On the one hand, gas is not being supplied in the new transmission line of gas, and similarly, the power plant is being kept ineffective due to the lack of transmission line. Apart from this, there is no additional supply of local gas sources. Huge investments in pipelines focused on LNG will not be financially viable. This will increase the pressure of the energy department.
Besides, infrastructure experts are blaming lack of coordination in the implementation of projects as the reason for keeping the gas transmission pipeline of Padma Bridge idle for more than two years. Basically supply planning should be based on how much gas is produced and how much is imported. About a dozen economic zones are being talked about in the southwest region. It should also be seen whether there is gas supply capability. Overall there is a lack of coordination or planning in the construction of the Padma Bridge gas pipeline. A huge investment has been made in the gas pipeline of Padma Bridge. But its benefits are getting delayed. Instead, it would have been better for Bangladesh's economy to invest in projects that would have immediate benefits.
In this regard, Bangladesh Bridge Authority Chief Engineer Kazi Md Ferdaus said that the gas pipeline has been handed over to GTCL after completion of the construction work. All its responsibilities are now theirs. They will maintain it. However, the ownership of the gas pipeline over the Padma Bridge will remain with the bridge authority. The bridge authority will collect tariff from GTCL for its use. Discussions have started for this.
Managing Director of GTCL Shahnewaz Parvez told the media that the bridge authority has handed over the pipeline to GTCL. Now the maintenance it needs is done by GTCL.
ZH
