The nation on Friday observed the 'National Energy Security Day-2019' across the country aimed at saving energy with efficient use and preventing misuse of the natural resources. On the occasion, Energy and Mineral Resources Division organized a seminar at Petrocentre in the city.State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said in the seminar that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman purchased five gas fields on 9 August in 1975 from Shell Oil to ensure energy security of the country.
“We could no longer take such bold initiatives. After his death, disastrous situation came down upon the energy sector. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has linked the private sector to the energy sector after taking charge of the government in 2009. This has led to a radical change,” the state minister added.Nasrul said currently the government’s big challenge is to supply affordable and uninterrupted energy. “To this end, you have to do hard work, the ministry will give full support,” he told the energy division officials.
Energy and mineral resources secretary Abu Hena M Rahmatul Munim said, “We will not provide gas connection anyone if efficient use of energy is not ensured. We have taken special initiative to prevent wastage of energy on the occasion of “Mujib Barsho”.Among others, Shahiduzzaman Sarkar, Chairmen of Parliamentary Committee on Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Petrobangla Chairman Md Ruhul Amin, SREDA member Shiddique Zobaer, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation General Manager Abu Hanif, Senior Journalist Mollah Amzad also addressed in the seminar.
Energy division official said that in January 2009 the daily production of natural gas was only 1,744 million cubic feet. However, at present, Petrobangla supplies 3,300 MMCF of gas every day. Of this, the imported LNG is more than 600 MMCF per day.The present government has discovered gas fields at Sadullapur, Srikail and Roopganj. Besides, the Bibiyana gas field has been expanded and gas is being supplied on Bibiyana-Dhanua gas pipeline.
Bangladesh discovered the prospects of a big deep-sea gas reserve after the resolution of its maritime boundary disputes with Myanmar and India. A 2D seismic survey along the Myanmar border has revealed that Bangladesh could have a minimum of five prospective structures in the Bay of Bengal in Block D-12. The operator of the block, the South Korean conglomerate Daewoo Corporation, officially informed Petrobangla about the finding and expressed its interest in doing a 3D seismic survey in the block, which is located along the Myanmar gas block AD-7.
Daewoo and its Australian partner, Woodside Energy, also operate Myanmar’s AD-7, which was discovered in 2016. “This raises high hopes for the nation as we see a good prospect in the block. But until we hit the gas, nobody can say anything confirmatory,” said a Petrobangla official.Blocks (in Bay of Bengal) SS-11, SS-04 and DS-12 are now being explored to get oil and gas. Also, the international company TGS-SCHLUMBERGER has been awarded the contract to do a 2D multi-client survey in the Bay of Bengal.
