The government is set to open the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the private sector like LPG to offset the loss of Petrobangla.
Elaborating the government's plan, Energy Division Secretary Abu Hena Rahmatul Munim said the private sector will be allowed to build terminal for LNG import. If necessary, the private sector will be allowed to use the government infrastructure to facilitate business, he added.
LNG is currently selling at Tk 13.52 per cubic meter in the international market whereas locally-produced natural gas costs Tk 7.35 per cubic meter. According to official estimate, the government will need around Tk 14,000crore -Tk 15,000 crore for importing 1000mmcfd of LNG in the current fiscal year.
However, the price of LNG or regasified LNG will be determined by the private importers themselves, he said.
The Energy Division secretary made all these remarks at a seminar recently at Petrobangla.
Bangladesh is importing 136,000 cubic meters of lean LNG from Qatar at Moheshkhali Island terminal since April 24, 2018. It was said that some 300 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of regasified LNG is being supplied to the national grid to feed consumers based in Chattogram city.
The seminar disclosed Bangladesh will need to import around 30 million tonnes of LNG per year to meet the growing local demand by 2041 as domestic gas reserves are depleting fast.
