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LNG supply issues fixed

Gas likely to reach Ctg through undersea pipeline on Thursday

Rejaul Karim Byron and Mohammad Suman
People of Chittagong could be using Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) this week as the authorities have finally been able to pump the imported LNG, on a ship anchored in the Bay, into the Matarbari reservoir in Moheshkhali of Cox's Bazar through an undersea pipeline.
An official of Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Ltd (RPGCL) said the LNG might be supplied to Chittagong on Thursday through the 91km undersea pipeline of Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd (KGDCL) linked to the grid in Chittagong's Anwara.
The government high-ups may inaugurate this formally on that day after a delay of three months due to adverse weather and technical issues.
Nasrul Hamid, state minister for power, energy and mineral resources, told The Daily Star yesterday that the gas had already arrived at Matarbari land terminal and gas pressure was being tested. He said if everything went well, the gas would be supplied to the pipeline.
The RPGCL official said the LNG was taken to the Matarbari reservoir from the LNG tanker - Excellence -anchored in the Bay of Bengal through the undersea pipeline on Sunday.
The ship carrying Bangladesh's first imported consignment of 1.37 lakh cubic feet of LNG from Qatar anchored in the Bay on April 24. Since then several deadlines had expired for gas transmission to the reservoir due to technical issues.
On August 8, Hamid said the imported LNG could not be supplied to the transmission line due to adverse weather and some technical problems. "At the end of the year, we hope to give uninterrupted gas supply."
He also said the first consignment was brought as a test batch and the delay in unloading the LNG would not cause any financial loss to the government.
The LNG terminal in Matarbari will initially gasify the liquid and pump it into the undersea pipeline linked to the grid in Anwara. The pipeline has already been set up by Gas Transmission Company.
KGDCL Managing Director Khaiz Ahmed Mozumder told The Daily Star that there was a demand for 500 million cubic feet (eft) of gas in Chittagong every day, but 220 eft to 240 eft was available from the national grid.
In the first phase, 100 million eft of the imported LNG will be supplied to the city through the pipeline. From next month, 280 million eft will be supplied and the amount will keep increasing every month gradually, he added.
The import of LNG is a part of the government's efforts to eliminate gas shortages and power outages and unlock the potential of the economy. Initially, the gas would be supplied to the users in Chittagong.
About 500 million cubic feet of gas per day can be supplied from the LNG terminal.