Energy Bangla - Bangladesh High-profile Team to Visit Doha for LNG import

A high-powered delegation of Bangladesh will visit Doha, the capital city of Qatar to discuss the possible import of LNG (liquefied natural gas) to meet the prevailing energy crisis, which hit the country’s economic and social life hard, according to a source.
Currently the gas demand stands at 2500 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) as against the local production of gas stands at 1900 mmcfd, leaving a shortfall of around 600 mmcfd. The power sector suffers seriously because of the energy crisis, which alone is responsible for shortfall of 500-600 mw electricity. The textile sector is the next victim of the energy crisis.
In this backdrop, the energy division has been directed by the highest level of the administration to look into the import of energy from abroad in the form of LNG.
Following the directives, the energy officials found that Qatar would be the best possible source for importing the LNG. Some preliminary discussions through the diplomatic channel were held with Qatar officials. Based on that discussion the high-powered delegation headed by energy secretary Meshbahuddin Ahmed will go on a three-day visit to Doha from June 2, the source said.
The delegation source said that around 300 million tonnes of LNG would be imported annually to cater to the country’s energy need. The Qatar authorities would be asked whether they would be able to supply the total quantity of LNG.
The issue of the LNG price and Qatar’s financial and technical support for the development of LNG infrastructure would also come up for discussion. Currently the price of per million btu LNG is around US$7-8. The Qatar authorities would be requested to provide some cession in the LNG price.
The energy officials are now considering some options of the LNG infrastructures, which include the floating storage and degasification facility, floating barge with LNG storage facility and the on-shore store and degasification unit. It will take maximum two years to develop such LNG infrastructure, on the other hand it will take 5-6 years to develop the LNG terminal.
Moheshkhali has been identified as the possible site for developing the LNG infrastructure on long term and short-term basis.
Qatar has the expertise in developing both long term and short-term LNG infrastructures, the source said.
Besides developing the LNG infrastructure, the government is planning to set up the long 90 kilometer gas pipeline from Moheshkhali to Chittagong for transportation of gas.
To facilitate the development of the LNG infrastructure and the gas pipeline, the government has created a LNG Cell in the Petrobangla and former chairman of Petrobangla was appointed the coordinator of the cell, the source said.