Two LNG terminals operational but gas supply shows no improvement
Floating LNG terminals in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar. File photo
Both floating terminals for LNG regasification are operational. However, gas supply is not increasing because LNG carrying vessels are not arriving according to schedule. Unless at least 11 to 12 LNG carrying vessels reach the two terminals in Maheshkhali each month, there is little prospect of an improvement in the supply situation. Currently, only 5 to 6 vessels arrive there each month. As a result, against the two terminals’ combined capacity of 1,100 million cubic feet, an average of around 750 million cubic feet of gas is being supplied.
As gas supply is not increasing, the gas crisis across the country is unlikely to ease soon. There is currently little prospect of reducing the difficulties faced by industries, residential consumers and the transport sector.
A new LNG carrying vessel named Amorgos arrived at Summit’s terminal in Maheshkhali on Wednesday afternoon. Since then, supply from Summit’s terminal increased from 170 million cubic feet to 570 million cubic feet around 11am on Thursday. Although Summit’s contracted capacity is 500 million cubic feet, the company is supplying an additional 70 million cubic feet.
As Summit’s terminal returned to full supply, gas supply from the nearby terminal operated by US company Excelerate dropped sharply. The terminal supplied 550 million cubic feet of gas on Wednesday. However, the figure fell to 161 million cubic feet on Thursday. Supply from Excelerate’s terminal will remain at this level until a new LNG carrying vessel arrives. However, officials of the Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL) cannot confirm when the next vessel will arrive for the terminal.
They said the two floating terminals in Maheshkhali require a total of 33,000 million cubic feet of LNG gas each month to supply 1,100 million cubic feet of gas at full capacity. The arrival of 11 to 12 LNG vessels near the terminals every month must be ensured regularly. However, the required number of vessels is not arriving. Sufficient LNG is also not available from the international spot market even at high prices.
According to Petrobangla data, the two terminals supplied an average of around 750 million cubic feet of LNG throughout the current week. Supply fell further to 731 million cubic feet today.
