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		<lang class="3" colour="#000000" orgstyle="HEAD new 2" style="Headline1"  font="Blacker Pro Display" fontStyle="Regular" size="25">Will invite int’l bids </lang>
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	<lang class="3" style=".Bodylaser" colour="#000000" orgstyle="FROM PAGE" font="Blacker Pro Display" fontStyle="Bold" size="7">FROM PAGE 3
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	<lang class="3" style=".Bodylaser" colour="#000000" orgstyle="INDENTLESS BODY new" font="Blacker Pro Display" fontStyle="Regular" size="9">different countries in the international context, a draft has been prepared to update the existing “Bangladesh Offshore Model PSC 2023” with the aim of attracting international oil companies. The Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division has vetted the prepared draft.
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	<lang class="3" style=".Bodylaser" colour="#000000" orgstyle="BODY new" font="Blacker Pro Display" fontStyle="Regular" size="9">Taking this opinion into consideration after the final approval of the “Bangladesh Offshore Model PSC 2026” (draft), new gas and oil exploration activities in deep and shallow sea areas will be strengthened.
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	<lang class="3" style=".Bodylaser" colour="#000000" orgstyle="BODY new" font="Blacker Pro Display" fontStyle="Regular" size="9">“And there are plans to convene a new offshore bidding round soon,” Tuku said.
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	<lang class="3" style=".Bodylaser" colour="#000000" orgstyle="BODY new" font="Blacker Pro Display" fontStyle="Regular" size="9">While answering another query from Mosharraf Hossain MP, the minister said currently the country has 29.74 trillion cubic feet (TCF) recoverable gas reserves.
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	<lang class="3" style=".Bodylaser" colour="#000000" orgstyle="BODY new" font="Blacker Pro Display" fontStyle="Regular" size="9">Of this, 22.11 TCF of gas has been extracted as of December 31, 2025, and 7.63 TCF remain available. If no new gas field is discovered and gas is supplied at the current rate, approximately 1,700 million cubic feet per day, the remaining 7.63 trillion cubic feet of gas can be supplied for approximately 12 years based on the available capacity.
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	<lang class="3" style=".Bodylaser" colour="#000000" orgstyle="BODY new" font="Blacker Pro Display" fontStyle="Regular" size="9">While answering another question from Sultan Mahmud Babu MP, the energy minister said the government has a multifaceted plan to reduce import dependence in the energy sector and increase domestic gasoline and fuel production.
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	<lang class="3" style=".Bodylaser" colour="#000000" orgstyle="BODY new" font="Blacker Pro Display" fontStyle="Regular" size="9">Till date, 26 wells are being drilled and worked over under the 50 and 100- well drilling and workover plans at various stages.
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	<lang class="3" style=".Bodylaser" colour="#000000" orgstyle="BODY new" font="Blacker Pro Display" fontStyle="Regular" size="9">Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration &amp; Production Company (BAPEX) has taken steps to conduct seismic survey activities.
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	<lang class="3" style=".Bodylaser" colour="#000000" orgstyle="BODY new" font="Blacker Pro Display" fontStyle="Regular" size="9">Feasibility studies have been planned for the construction of open-pit coal mines in the northern and southern parts of the Barapukuria coalfield in Dinajpur, the development of an underground mine in a 15 sq km area in the north-western part of the Jamalganj coal field, spanning Naogaon and Joypurhat, and the establishment of an underground mine in the Khalaspir coalfield in Rangpur.  In addition, there is a plan to develop an underground mine to extract coal from the Dighipara coalfield in Dinajpur.</lang>
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