Load-shedding likely to increase to save energy

Bangla Press Desk : The government has decided to ration energy as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East threatens fuel supplies, raising the likelihood of increased load-shedding across the country.

As part of the move, authorities have reduced gas supply to fertiliser factories and power plants. Production has already stopped at two state-owned fertiliser plants—Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited (CUFL) and Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Limited (KAFCO).Officials also reduced gas supply for electricity generation by 50 million cubic feet, which caused load-shedding in several parts of the country on Wednesday.

To manage the situation, Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources Corporation (Petrobangla) has started efforts to purchase two cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the spot market. Officials said bidders have already responded, and authorities hope that the additional LNG supply will help restore normal gas distribution to fertiliser plants and power generation.The conflict has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, putting LNG imports at risk. Considering the possible supply shortage, Petrobangla has started rationing gas for power and fertiliser production. Authorities issued the rationing order on Wednesday.

Petrobangla Chairman Mohammad Erfanul Haque said the government reduced gas supply to both sectors as part of the rationing plan.

“We have decided to introduce rationing in power and fertiliser production. Gas supply has been reduced slightly in both sectors. However, we have already received responses to our bidding process launched on 4 March to purchase two LNG cargoes from the spot market,” he said.

He added that Petrobangla plans to purchase the cargoes from Australia and the United States to address possible supply disruptions scheduled for 15 and 18 March.

Petrobangla Director (Operations and Mines) Engineer Mohammad Rafiqul Islam said power plants earlier received around 870 million cubic feet of gas daily, but the supply has now dropped to about 820 million cubic feet.

He said gas supply has stopped at most fertiliser factories except Shahjalal Fertiliser Company Limited. Authorities will restart the factories once gas supply improves.

Currently, the fertiliser sector receives about 130 million cubic feet less gas than before. Fertiliser plants usually require around 170 million cubic feet of gas daily.

CUFL alone produces about 11,000 tonnes of urea fertiliser per day and requires between 48 and 52 million cubic feet of gas for full production. KAFCO has a daily capacity of about 1,725 tonnes of urea and around 1,500 tonnes of ammonia, but production has remained suspended due to the gas shortage.

Although Shahjalal Fertiliser Company still receives gas, officials warned that production there could also stop if the supply situation worsens.

Petrobangla sources said Bangladesh plans to import nine LNG cargoes in March, 11 in April and another 11 in May. Of these, 19 cargoes are expected to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Each LNG cargo contains around 3,000 million cubic feet of gas, which is less than Bangladesh’s daily demand. Domestic sources currently supply about 1,714 million cubic feet of gas per day, while LNG imports usually add between 800 and 1,000 million cubic feet to the national supply.Source: daily Sun

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