Summit's LNG terminal shut down, crisis deepens
Photo: Agamir Somoy
LNG (liquefied natural gas) supply through the terminal of the domestic company Summit Group has come to a halt. The floating LNG terminal in the Bay at Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar, has been unable to supply gas since 3:00 PM on Thursday.
Due to depleted stockpiles, only 100 million cubic feet of LNG was being supplied through this domestic company over the last two days, despite the terminal having a capacity of 500 million cubic feet. With no new LNG carrier arriving, supply through Summit's terminal has ceased.
However, of the two floating terminals in Maheshkhali, the one operated by the American company Excelerate is partially operational. Against its capacity of 600 million cubic feet, it supplied 300 million cubic feet today (Thursday). Yesterday (Wednesday), it also supplied 300 million cubic feet. Due to a damaged boiler, it is not currently possible to supply more than this through that terminal. The boiler will require 72 hours of shutdown for repairs. As a result, until Summit's terminal resumes operations, the government has no alternative but to manage with 300 million cubic feet of LNG.
The two terminals in the country have a combined LNG supply capacity of 1,100 million cubic feet. Since a fire damaged the boiler at the Excelerate Energy terminal on July 21, gas supply had dropped to 500 million cubic feet. After Excelerate partially resumed operations on August 6, supply increased. However, supply to the overall LNG grid collapsed when Summit's terminal reduced its output two days ago.
Regarding this matter, multiple phone calls were made to Engineer Md. Anwarul Islam, the Managing Director of Rupantarito Prakritik Gas Company Limited, but he could not be reached for comment.
Later, several officials of the organization confirmed the suspension of gas supply through the Summit terminal. However, the good news is that the LNG carrier "BW Lesmes" is on its way from the USA for the Summit terminal. It is expected to reach the Bay of Bengal near the Maheshkhali floating terminal by 6:00 AM on August 15. The vessel is carrying 66,000 tons of LNG. Summit's terminal will resume only after that ship arrives. This means the Summit terminal will remain closed for at least another day and a half.
