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Gas Exploration

JS body slams Petrobangla for 'inefficiency'

Rashidul Hasan
A parliamentary body yesterday strongly criticised officials of Petrobangla for not working "efficiently" in producing gas at different gas fields.
The parliamentary standing committee on estimate at a meeting asked Petrobangla to work in a "warlike situation” and increase volumeof gas production.
The committee also asked officials of the power and energy ministry to submit in two weeks a report on how to overcome energy crisis.
Petrobangla on the other hand sought relaxation of present rules and regulations in exploring gas in a bid to materialise its specialised fast-track project under which it projected to pro-duceasmuchas 1 J8to 128 million cubic feet per day (mmefd).
Petrobangla made the appeal to the government considering urgency of additional gas exploration and digging of gas fields to ensure energy safety by meeting ongoing demand.
SEE PAGE 2 COL 5 The Bangladesh oil, gas and mineral corporation iiiformed this yesterday at the meeting of die estimate committee held at the parliament building.
Talking to The Daily Star, I IN Ashcqur Rahman, chairman of the committee, gave a comparison of gas production between Petrobangla and foreign companies. He said Petrobangla produces 885.17 mmefd against the reserve of 5.38 trillion cubic feet (TCI7) in different gas fields, wltilc foreign companies produce 970 mmefd against the reserve of 1.5TCF.
“So we asked Petrobangla to produce gas at its maximum ability," Rahman told The Daily Star after die meeting. If foreign companies can produce more gas in spite of having less reserve, why Petrobangla cannot produce more, he asked.
"The committee has asked Petrobangla to work in a short
decision and work in a warlike situation," hcadded.
"We arc in a serious gas and power crisis and if we cannot meet demands of the people, our pledges for bringing changes and electricity for all will not be materialised," the committee chief commented.
"investment and studies -nothing will happen in the country unless power is available," he observed.
Petrobangla officials told the meeting they don't produce much gas considering profit, say meeting sources.
The committee members rejected this view saying nothing is superior to the interest of the country and production of more gas is at present very important considering power crisis, the sources add.
The committee also asked tire officials concerned to evalu -ate which method will be profit-able for coalmining in
Bangladesh and work accord-Ingly
The committee also instructed the officials to go for building strong opinion among the people in favour of open mine method if it is found profitable.
"You cannot sit idle on your resources," commented Rahman.
Asked to comment on Petrobangla’s appeal for relax ation of present rules and regulations in exploring gas, Rahman said, 'We have assured them of all kinds of cooperation.’
Petrobangla requested the government to take necessary steps so that the High Court withdraws the bar on onshore bidding.
It also appealed to the government for not giving gas connection to any sector until production reaches 2,200 mmefd.