CONCERN PERSISTS OVER SHORTAGE OF NATURAL GAS

Not unsurprisingly the country has once again been in the grip of a gas crisis.

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According to a latest report, the authorities can now supply up to 2500-2700 MMCF of natural gas a day against the demand of 3800 MMCF. At least a daily production of 3000 MMCFD is needed to manage the demand somehow. But the current gap between the need and the supply is quite staggering resulting in the disruption in industrial production and household consumption.

But for the winter when the demand for power-producing gas goes down, the crisis could have been even more severe. The summer when the electricity demand will go up along with increased demand for gas will start in full swing soon amid fear of exacerbating the gas trouble.

The shortage of natural gas is nothing new. Bangladeshis have been familiar with it for the past several years. As recently as in 2018 the country produced 2700 MMCFD of natural gas, nearly enough to manage the demand with not a big disruption.