BD to set up land-based LNG terminal to boost industrial gas supply

The interim government of Bangladesh has decided to establish a land-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal to ensure smooth gas supply for the country's industrial sector, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has said.

The interim government of Bangladesh has decided to establish a land-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal to ensure smooth gas supply for the country's industrial sector, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has said.

Speaking to the media in Qatar's Doha on Friday, he said the terminal would be set up “as quick as possible”, according to state news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

“Many are saying that they are unable to set up factories due to lack of gas. So, we want to set up a land-based LNG terminal as quick as possible so that enough gas could be brought [from abroad]," he was quoted as saying by BSS.

Yunus has presented a plan to Qatar Energy during his trip to Doha, the report said.

The two floating LNG terminals in Bangladesh are both privately owned and located in Cox's Bazar's Moheshkhali.

According to a Petrobangla report, around 2,750 million cubic feet of gas is pumped daily for key sectors, including electricity and fertiliser production, and 1,900 million cubic feet of that comes from gas fields.

The remaining 900 million cubic feet of gas is supplied from the two floating terminals, though their capacity is 1,100 million cubic feet combined.

Yunus and his entourage went to Doha on Monday for a four-day visit to attend the Earthna Summit. From there, he flew to Rome, Italy, on Friday to attend Pope Francis’s funeral. The funeral is scheduled for Saturday.

Shafiqul said the trip to Qatar was very fruitful. “I would say it is one of the most successful and very engaging visit,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the Doha episode would draw foreign investors to Bangladesh.

Highlighting the rebound of the economy, Shafiqul noted that an “outstanding debt of $3.2 billion” from the ousted Awami League regime was brought down to $600 million by the interim government.

The remaining debt will be cleared within a few months, he said, adding: “It sends a positive signal outside the world that we are ready for business.”