'New gas field found in Shahbazpur of Bhola', screamed the headlines of last Tuesday's newspapers. None other than an important government official like the cabinet secretary had made the disclosure about the new gas field at a press briefing held after the weekly cabinet meeting on the previous day.
However, one of the leading national English dailies only a couple of days after the disclosure in a front-page report, quoting the experts in the relevant field, claimed that it was no new gas field discovery. What has been described as a new gas field, actually, is part of the structure of the existing Shahbazpur gas field.
So, in a way the news is a fake one and it was, allegedly, manufactured by certain quarters with an ulterior motive.
Yet, the fake or concocted news indicates to something big. That is what the experts within the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration Company (Bapex) tend to believe.
It was disclosed by the cabinet secretary that new gas field was found at a distance of three kliometres from the existing Shahbazpur gas field. In fact, according to Bapex people, the distance is only one and a half km.
Gazprom, the Russian contractor engaged by the Bapex, found gas after doing exploratory drilling about a couple of months back and confirmed the existence of gas at almost same depth with gas pressure similar to that of Shahbazpur.
Experts say that the so-called new gas field belongs to the existing one.
The interesting part of the story is that the disclosure has not been made by the Bapex officially, for it is yet to conduct certain geological tests. Such tests are necessary to be certain about the discovery of a new gas field and the reserve volume. There is an allegation that one of the top bureaucrats had fed the story about the gas field discovery to ensure his job extension after retirement that is due soon.
But what is positive about the latest gas discovery story is that the presence of gas at a small distance from the existing field, measuring only 10km long and 7km wide, points to the fact that the size of the Shahbazpur gas field could be far larger than what was thought initially.
The latest discovery has come as an encouragement to the Bapex. It has now decided to conduct exploratory drilling 35km north of Bhola. Positive results, followed by certain geological tests, hopefully, would confirm the existence of, possibly, the country's largest gas reserve.
And if that comes true, the problem of energy crisis that is hurting the economy would be resolved, at least partially, for a period in the future.
Currently, all the gas transmission and distribution companies together are making available nearly 2,800 mmcf (million cubic feet) per day as against the demand for 3,500 mmcf. The shortfall is estimated on the basis of the existing gas connections. But the actual demand is far greater than the availability of gas. The distribution companies have stopped new gas connections since long.
The gas crisis is really very serious in nature. Many state-owned gas-based power stations are kept out of operation for gas shortage. When gas is supplied to fertilizer factories, the power plants are kept inoperative.
To cope with the crisis, the government has signed agreements with a number of foreign companies to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) and set up LNG terminals and re-gasification plants at substantial cost.
It is obvious that fuel at the consumers' level will be costlier in the coming days. So will be electricity. Consequently, all goods and services would be pricier than what they are now.
Against the backdrop of such an energy scenario, the possible availability of a large gas reserve in Bhola will be a welcome piece of news for all.
However, gas extracted from Shahbazpur in Bhola, a deltaic Island district, is unlikely to be taken to the national grid, as building pipeline for the purpose would be an expensive business. However, that would not anyway reduce the importance of the large reserve since installation of a number of gas-based power plants would help meet the ever-increasing demand for electricity across the country. Integration of power generated in Bhola into the national power grid would not be a problem. Moreover, gas, if found in large quantities, could be taken to nearby Barisal district to help set up gas-based industries.
The Barisal Division remains one of the under-developed areas in the country. All the districts under its jurisdiction do not have any industry that is worth mentioning. Poor road communication network and marketing facilities are viewed as major problems. But with the completion of the Padma Bridge, the situation is expected to change radically. The problem of marketing of goods, agricultural or otherwise, will be largely resolved. So, availability of gas is likely to open up new opportunities for fast industrialisation of the region.
