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Petrobangla announces gas staggering schedules: Saving of 40 mmcf gas per day planned
Staff Reporter
Petrobangla will introduce holiday staggering in gas supply to industries in Greater Dhaka from Wednesday to save the fossil fuel following continuous gas crisis in the city and its adjoining areas.

Petrobangla yesterday declared the staggering schedules in gas supply after discussion with leaders of different trade bodies at its office. Representatives of the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Bangladesh Textiles Mills Association (BTMA) were present.

Petrobangla will stop gas supply to Narsingdi, Ghorashal, Valuka, Jinjira, Munshiganj, Dhaka metro 4-Tejgaon, Uttara, Cantonment, Gulshan and Banani on Wednesday.

Besides, gas supply will also be stopped to Sonargaon and Mirpur zones on Thursday.

Petrobangla will suspend gas supply at Fatullah, Narayangonj and Tangail intersection, Dhaka Metro 3-Khilgaon, Malibag, Mogbazar, Rampura and Beraid on Friday.

On Saturday, Petrobangla will stop gas supply to Dhaka metro-4-Demra, Jatrabari, Postogola, Jurain, Shyamnagar, Dhaka metro-2-Motijheel, a portion of Lalbagh, Dhaka University Campus and Sadarghat.

It will be applicable to greater Dhaka on Sunday.

Petrobangla will stop gas supply to Gazipur-Tongi, Bhaloka, Mymensingh, Manikganj, Dhaka metro-5-Lalbagh, Mohammadpur and Dhanmondi on Monday and Tongi, Gazipur, Joydevpur, Tangail, Agargaon and Mymensingh on Tuesday.

Petrobangla will save between 30million cubic feet of gas per day (MMCFD) — 40mmcfd through the initiative.

During the discussion, most of the leaders supported the idea to have a better supply on six days of the week instead of a daily disturbance in gas supply.

BGMEA President said that the readymade garments factories have been facing gas crisis during the last few months. “But we could not get adequate gas supply during the last two weeks,” he said adding, “Due to gas crisis, several garment units have already been forced to shut down.”

“We agree to the Petrobangla initiative if it assures smooth supply of gas to garments units during working hours.” “Through the initiative, maximum utilisation of gas is possible in garments units,” he hoped.

He said that the government should stop gas supply to the three fertiliser factories which would save 200mmcfd. “The government will supply the saved gas to industrial units,” he said.

Petrobangla Chairman Hossain Monsoor said that leaders of different trade bodies responded positively to the initiative of introduction of holiday staggering in gas supply.

“Gas crisis in different sectors has been intensified due to mismatch of demand and supply of gas,” he said.

Replying to BGMEA demand, he said that the government has not yet taken any decision to stop gas supply to fertiliser factories.

However, Petrobangla also discussed about the holiday staggering in gas supply to CNG stations with Bangladesh CNG Association leaders.

During the meeting, Bangladesh CNG Association leaders said that they have no problem as regards introduction of the idea in CNG station. “But we will need some time to discuss the matter with the CNG station owners,” Bangladesh CNG Association Secretary General Zakir Hossain Noyan said.

Many industries, particularly textile and garments manufacturing plants, have been experiencing severe gas crisis for long. The main allegation is that industries are not getting gas supply in proper pressure. Low pressure in gas supply slows down the wheels or disrupts their operations severely.

Those having domestic connections have been facing gas crisis for the last couple of months and the city has been witnessing agitation over it.

An official of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution said that they receive between 50-60 complaints regarding the gas crisis in residential areas daily. “We have supplied only 144mmcfd against the demand for 165mmcfd in Dhaka,” he said, “Due to shortage of supply against the demand, the residential and industrial units suffer.”

Meanwhile, the National Committee for Protection of Oil-Gas-Energy Resources and Power-Port yesterday called upon the government to search gas for in different fields which were abandoned by the multinational companies