Bangladesh’s energy ministry says the gas crisis caused by a technical fault at a floating LNG terminal will be resolved within two to three days.
Fault at Maheshkhali FSRU cuts gas flow
On Tuesday morning a malfunction at Excelerate Energy’s floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) anchored at Maheshkhali reduced LNG regasification by roughly 40 per cent, according to Petrobangla sources. The drop lowered daily gas injection to about 600 million cubic feet (mmcfd) from the previous day’s near 1.0 billion cubic feet (Bcfd). The shortfall rippled through the national grid, prompting long queues at many CNG stations and limiting supply to households, factories, and power plants.
Joint Secretary Monir Hossain Chowdhury of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) addressed the issue at a press briefing on Wednesday. He said repairs are already under way and the disruption is temporary. “Mechanical issues at one of the two FSRUs have lowered gas pressure, causing long queues at some CNG stations and reduced supply to industries, power plants, and households,” he explained.
Residents in Dhaka and other regions reported that cooking gas was unavailable for much of the day. Some industrial zones have scaled back production because low pressure hampers furnace operation. Officials stressed there is no fuel‑oil crisis; diesel, octane, petrol, furnace oil, and jet fuel reserves remain sufficient for several weeks.
Government response and longer‑term plans
The ministry highlighted existing fuel stocks: 31 days of diesel, 36 days of octane, 20 days of petrol, 25 days of furnace oil, and 20 days of jet fuel. Additional diesel shipments are slated for arrival by July 31, with further deliveries in August expected to secure oil supplies for at least 48 days.
Bangladesh’s daily gas demand stands at about 3,800 mmcfd. Current supply, including imported LNG, has slipped to between 2,700 mmcfd and 2,800 mmcfd. To curb reliance on imported LNG, the government has approved a Tk 7.29 billion project to drill three new wells in Begumganj (Noakhali) and Sunamganj, part of a broader initiative to add 100 wells over the coming years. The drilling project aims to increase domestic output.
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Officials also announced steps to diversify supply sources. A tender for a fourth FSRU is being prepared, and feasibility studies for importing LNG from Malaysia are underway. The ministry is reviewing pipeline options to connect stranded gas from Bhola to the mainland, aiming to boost domestic output and reduce vulnerability to future disruptions.
The technical fault at the Maheshkhali unit is the immediate cause of the shortfall. EMRD data show that the fault reduced gas flow to the national grid by around 450 mmcfd, according to a statement from the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited (TGTDCL). The company warned that customers across its network will continue to feel low pressure until repairs are completed.
Bangladesh has repeatedly faced similar bottlenecks whenever a single LNG source encounters issues. Those past episodes led to short‑term price spikes and temporary curtailments, but each time they spurred a push for greater domestic production and infrastructure resilience.
Media reports have varied in tone, and the EMRD’s joint secretary cautioned that some outlets are publishing misleading information about fuel and gas availability. He warned that such misinformation could cause unnecessary panic among consumers.
Normal gas pressure is expected to be restored in the coming days. CNG stations will clear queues and factories will resume full output. Ongoing projects to expand drilling and add another FSRU aim to provide a buffer against similar incidents, reinforcing the country’s energy security while demand continues to rise.
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