Gas crisis slashes production in Brahmanbaria

Industrial production is severely hampered due to an acute gas crisis at the Brahmanbaria BSCIC Industrial Estate, where production in gas-dependent factories has dropped by nearly half because they are not receiving the required gas pressure.

Rokun Uddin, the assistant general manager (AGM) of the Brahmanbaria BSCIC Industrial Estate, confirmed the matter and said it has been reported to the Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited.

This situation has resulted in financial losses for industrial owners and a reduction in income for daily wage workers.

According to BSCIC sources, a quick resolution is unlikely, and it may take another two to three months for the situation to return to normal. 68 factories are operational within the Brahmanbaria BSCIC, 24 of which are entirely gas-dependent.

For the past month, the gas pressure in these factories has fluctuated between 3 and 5 PSI, whereas a minimum of 15 PSI is required for standard production.

Due to the lack of necessary gas, factories producing silicate, wire (guna), and soap are facing the most significant losses.

As a result, entrepreneurs are struggling to deliver goods to customers on time, while rising production costs and low output are increasing their financial losses, leading many institutions to take a cautious stance on accepting new orders. The gas crisis has also impacted the livelihoods of laborers.

However, Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited said there is no possibility of immediate improvement and the crisis may persist for another two to three months.

Md Shafiqul Haq, the deputy general manager (DGM-Engineering) of the Brahmanbaria office of Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company, added that initiatives have been taken to install separate pipelines for the BSCIC industrial estate and filling stations to ensure uninterrupted gas supply.

Nevertheless, until the project work is completed, industrial factories will have to continue operating under the burden of low-pressure problems.