Bangladesh gas supply improves as LNG terminals resume operations following 25-day shortage
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Natural gas supplies in Bangladesh began to recover on Saturday, offering brief relief after a debilitating 25-day shortage that disrupted industrial production, electricity generation, and daily life. The restoration follows the full resumption of operations at the Summit Group’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and the partial restart of the Excelerate Energy facility.
According to Petrobangla, the state-owned oil, gas, and mineral corporation, gas supply reached approximately 240 million cubic feet by Saturday morning, up from a low of 173 million cubic feet recorded on Friday afternoon. While the increase provides immediate stabilization, officials cautioned that the crisis may persist for several more days before returning to normal levels.
The supply shortage was triggered on July 21 when a fire incident forced the closure of the Excelerate Energy terminal in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar. This facility, which has a total capacity of 600 million cubic feet per day, relies on two boilers. While one remains damaged by the fire, the other was brought back online earlier this month, though it faced a temporary technical shutdown on Friday. Plans are currently underway to repair the damaged boiler, an operation that will eventually require a full 72-hour suspension of supply from the Excelerate terminal to ensure safety and testing.
Concurrently, the Summit terminal—which has a capacity of 500 million cubic feet—faced its own supply chain hurdles. Logistics were complicated by an incompatible vessel sent by Saudi Aramco, which was turned away due to safety risks and lack of transfer compatibility. However, a new shipment from Vitol Asia successfully docked on Friday, allowing the Summit terminal to resume full-scale operations.
Despite the current recovery, the national gas supply remains constrained. Bangladesh requires approximately 3.8 billion cubic feet of gas daily, though the system typically manages with 2.7 to 3 billion cubic feet through rationing. With the current supply at 2.4 billion cubic feet, the nation still faces a daily deficit of 300 million cubic feet.
Energy sector analysts note that while the government is prioritizing supply restoration, the situation remains fragile. Reduced electricity demand due to recent rainfall and weekend holidays has temporarily masked the severity of the load-shedding. However, experts warn that a return to high temperatures could once again strain the power grid, potentially renewing the cycle of energy deficits.
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