Around 48 crore cubic meter of gas is being wasted or disappearing from Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited (TGTDCL) network every year.
Considering the current average unit price at taka 12.60, the financial value of the wasted gas is around Tk 600 crore, sources said.
However, Titas can run three fertiliser factories belonging to its distribution network for two years by using the amount of gas that is wasted. At least 17 government power plants could be run in full capacity for a year with the gas that has been wasted for the last five years. TGTDCL authorities claim that numerous holes in long-worn pipelines and illegal connections are the main reasons for the disappearance of gas. They have taken initiatives to address these issues. However, its implementation is quite time-consuming and extremely expensive.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told reporters “most of the gas pipelines in Dhaka are 35-40 years old and almost dilapidated. Initiatives have been taken to change these lines. A project has already been approved for Titas. Through this, the gas transmission and distribution system will come under SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition). We are also vocal about stopping illegal gas connections.” Sources said Titas is adding the wasted gas to their systems loss. However, the quantity of wasted gas or systems loss is actually more.
Till last June, the total domestic subscribers of Titas were 28 lakh 49 thousand 359. Of these, only two lakh 12 thousand 500 consumers have pre-paid meters. One lakh 54 thousand 996 consumers are single-oven users. The remaining 24 lakh 81 thousand 863 consumers are double-burner users. The monthly bill at taka 975 has been fixed with the estimate that each of the consumers will use 77.38 cubic meters of gas per month. However, it has been proved by pre-paid meter users that no customer uses more than 40 cubic meters of gas per month.
Thus, the unused gas remains in the Titas network. The quantity of the saved gas is about 60 billion cubic meters (BCM) per year. But there is no separate calculation. If it is done, the systems loss will be enormous.
Several intelligence agencies have reported to the government over the years about the illegal gas connections. In their reports, they stated the involvement of influential quarters at various levels and unholy nexus with dishonest officials and employees of the Titas for the illegal gas connections.
Illegal gas connections and old dilapidated pipelines often lead to incidents of fire, explosions, injuries and deaths.
Energy expert, Professor Shamsul Alam said that the capital's gas distribution system has become a death trap. A section of officials and employees from the top to bottom of the company are allegedly indulging in corruption. Besides, there is no initiative to repair the dilapidated lines.
A former Titas official said that according to international rules, a kind of scented chemical is used in the gas pipeline to detect the leakage. The scent can spread and cause an alert. Now this activity is probably off. It is not easy now to detect any damage to pipelines.
TGTDCL is the largest gas distribution company in the country. Apart from Dhaka city, it has a wide distribution network across Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Gazipur, Tangail and Mymensingh. TGTDCL makes more than half of the country's daily gas supply. There are still about 250 kilometers of illegal pipelines and about one lakh burners under TGTDCL gas network.
At present, there is 24 thousand 287 kilometer gas network in the country. Out of this, Titas Gas has 12,253 km pipeline, whereas around 7,000 km pipeline is in Dhaka and 70 percent pipeline is very risky. There is also a 20-50 year old distribution line.
Ali Mohd. Al-Mamun, Managing Director of TGTDCL told Bangladesh Post, "Illegal gas disconnection operations are underway. Upon receiving a complaint, the special team goes to the spot and disconnects as well as imposes fines. We are trying our best to disconnect all illegal connections within the “Mujib Barsho”.
He said a large part of the distribution system is quite old. However, a project worth taka 1,200 crore with government fund has been undertaken to replace the old pipelines with new ones to streamline the gas distribution system for reduction of risk and sustainable development.
Besides, Titas will also set up around 200-kilometer new pipeline with its own funds. If the project is implemented, the problem will be solved. He hopes that the new pipeline project, funded by Titas, will be completed by June 2022.
The project was taken up in 2018, but it is progressing at a snail’s pace. Still now it is in initial stage. None can say how long it will take to implement this project.
Officials said Titas distribution system will be brought into modern technology. After introducing the new technology, if there is a leak in the gas line at any place, the information will immediately go to the central control room. This will reduce the risk of accidents. Another advantage will be that if an attempt is made to take an illegal gas connection by leaking a distribution line somewhere, the matter will also come to notice and immediate action can be taken.