DHAKA, Oct 23, 2024 (BSS)- Petrobangla has disconnected a total of 2,06,650 illegal gas connections and removed 443.64 kilometer illegal pipeline across the country during the last financial year.

The drive against illegal gas connections was conducted from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, Chairman of Petrobangla Zanendra Nath Sarkar said.

Addressing a views exchange meeting with journalists at Petrobangla Conference room, he said a total of 55 teams led by magistrate and gas company officials conducted the drive.

Drive against the illegal consumers saved around 25 million cubic meter gas worth about Taka 1.41 crore, he said.

Petrobangla chairman said a project is going on to install 19 lakh prepaid meter in the areas under the jurisdiction of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company.

He said currently system loss stands at 8.5 percent to 9 percent. “But we have a target to bring system loss less than 2 percent,” he said.

Meanwhile Titas in a drive cut 5294 connections of residential, commercial and industrial categories and removed 29 km illegal pipeline.

The drive was enforced from September 8, 2024 to October 22, 2024, saving 41,37,053 cubic feet gas worth over Taka 20 lakh every day, Titas MD Shahnawaz Parvez said.

Replying to a question, the Petrobangla Chairman said that the government has undertaken an initiative for digging new wells to explore new gas field.

Similar drives against illegal gas connection are also going on in the Bakhrabad, Jalalabad, and Karnaphuli gas transmission areas.