The state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (Bapex) will start drilling a fresh well in Shariatpur district from next month. After completion of the drilling, about 10 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd) will be produced from the well.
When the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict coupled with Covid-19 pandemic is deepening the energy crisis constantly, this is good news indeed for our country. The ruling Awami League has added 1000 million cubic feet of gas to the national grid in the last 13 years. Bapex has undertaken a 20-year future plan for further natural gas extraction to ensure energy security in the country.
The government has decided to dig wells going deep layer as the shallow reserves of many gas fields have dwindled. For this, Bapex is bringing rigs with a capacity of 7,500 meters digging. Currently about 2,600 mmcfd gas is being extracted daily from 20 discovered gas fields out of 28 existing fields. The ongoing gas crisis and rise of energy prices, including liquefied natural gas, have accelerated the Bapex to implement its plan.
The government will
have to continue its
efforts to increase
the country's gas
production capacity
It is good to note that the Bapex is accelerating the oil and gas exploration and production activities of country. We hope that the fresh digging of a gas well will play a crucial role in the energy sector as the reserve of natural gas is declining gradually. Apart from this one, the government also plans to drill two other wells in coming days at the newly discovered field.
According to the government’s power system master plan, Bangladesh will require 3,150 mmcfd of gas per day for power generation in 2041. But the country’s overall natural gas output is currently hovering around 2,700 mmcfd including re-gasified imported LNG to the tune of around 455 mmcfd.
Therefore, the government will have to continue its efforts to increase the country's gas production capacity. If Bapex is strengthened, Bangladesh would not have to depend on foreign companies for oil and gas exploration in the country.
Therefore, the ministry, Petrobangla and Bapex should work together to ensure energy security in the country and energy exploration in the map area.
