LNG supply rises to 769m cubic feet after terminal activation
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Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply increased to 769 million cubic feet on Saturday following the activation of two floating terminals in Moheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar.
However, it remains uncertain for how long this volume of LNG can be supplied. After the Summit Group terminal was activated on Friday evening, the supply rose to 460 million cubic feet by 4 am, eventually reaching 469 million cubic feet on Saturday morning. The total capacity of this terminal is 500 million cubic feet.
In contrast, the supply from the American company Excelerate Energy’s terminal suddenly halted at midnight. Prior to this, the terminal had been supplying 300 million cubic feet of gas. Following strict government directives, the fault was quickly repaired, and supply resumed at 3 am at 300 million cubic feet.
One boiler at this terminal is broken, and gas is being supplied using the remaining boiler. To repair the defect, the Excelerate Energy terminal must be shut down for at least 72 hours, after which the US company will be able to supply its full capacity of 600 million cubic feet.
An official from the Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL) said it will take more time to reach the full 1,100 million cubic feet supply capacity of the two terminals combined. The Excelerate terminal will only be shut down for repairs once Summit is fully operational.
Until then, this level of LNG supply will continue. Since supply stability has not yet been achieved, it has not been determined which distribution company will receive how much gas. When the LNG supply rose to 769 million cubic feet, Chattogram was receiving only 128 million cubic feet, despite having a demand of 350 million cubic feet.
A RPGCL senior official remarked, “The two terminals have indeed started, but the gas pressure is not yet normal. Petrobangla will determine the quotas after the gas pressure becomes normal and if the LNG supply remains at this level.”
Chattogram is receiving 128-130 million cubic feet. Petrobangla and RPGCL had previously claimed that LNG-carrying vessels could not be docked at the Summit terminal due to adverse weather.
