Supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the country's maiden floating LNG import terminal is expected to increase significantly from this week.
This will have a positive impact on overall gas supply in the country including Chattogram.
Production of power and fertiliser in gas-fired plants and industrial and commercial enterprises in the private sector will go up with an enhanced supply of LNG, sources concerned said.
Supply of 500 million cubic feet re-gasified LNG from floating, storage and re-gasification unit (FSRU) on a trial basis was successful last week. So, the authority concerned decided to enhance the supply to 500 million cubic feet a day (mmcfd), sources in Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Co said.
They said the supply of gas was limited to maximum 330 mmcfd for last seven months due to different reasons. Even the supply was suspended for several days due to leakage between the subsea pipeline and FSRU terminal at the beginning of November last.
Sources said the country is getting around 2,700 mmcfd of gas from different gas fields in the country. But the demand for gas is increasing day by day.
Gas-hungry industries, especially in the Chattogram region, have been facing gas shortage. Commercial enterprises also faced gas shortage for years.
Managing Director of KGDCL Engineer Khayez Ahmed Majumder said it is good news for all of them that gas supply from FSRU will reach its full capacity of 500 mmcfd.
Industrial, commercial and domestic consumers in Chattogram will benefit from improvement in the gas supply while the national grid will also get a boost, he added.