DHAKA, January 21, 2024 (BSS)-State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid today assured that gas supply in Dhaka and Chattogram will be improved within two days.

“Gas supply in Chattogram was disrupted due to technical fault of a FSRU (Floating Storage and Re-gasification Unit). But on that day gas supply was ensured in Chattogram through pipeline,” he told the journalists at a short briefing at his ministry conference room.

The state minister said that both floating storage and re-gasification units (FSRUs) in the country have resumed operation and the situation is gradually improving.
 
On Saturday, gas supply pressure was not satisfactory but from 12 noon gas supply pressure was improved, he added.

Nasrul Hamid said that gas supply disruption was unexpected so within one-two days, gas supply will be improved, adding, “Pressure of gas supply usually declines at residential areas during the winter season.”

Mentioning the current gas demand in the country rose to 3,800 mmcfd, he said the government is supply gas at 3,200 mmcfd.
 
Besides, power generation was deduced from gas based power plants due to the technical fault of gas pressure, which enforced load shedding in different areas, the state minister said.
 
The government has taken measures to increase the supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as some 80 percent of the residential consumers now use this liquefied gas, he said.

Nasrul Hamid said that efforts are being made to bring all the customers under meter system and 450,000 gas meters were installed so far.

“Our target is to introduce gas meters everywhere within the next three years.

 We have been trying to install gas meters for a long time. But it's too late to arrange enough money.

 That problem has already been solved. Now the World Bank, ADB and a Japanese development agency is financing in the sector,” he added.
 
Meanwhile, installation work of 50,000 meters under Jalalabad Gas Company, 2.5 lakh meters under Karnaphuli and 4.5 lakh meters in Dhaka is going on.

Replying to a question the state minister said, “We hope that this crisis will be resolved within the next two to three years. We have to install about 20 lakh meters. About 5 to 7 years ago JICA gave us fund for this project. Now we are started working on it.”