Drillings at several sites by Bapex were faced with delays as transportation of necessary equipment was severely disrupted across the country because of the nationwide non-stop blockade programme enforced by BNP-led 14-party alliance.
The political unrest has also interrupted transporting condensates, which is likely have negative impacts at different gas fields.
“Generally it needs about 3-4 months to shift the equipment, but currently we cannot do so. The process has already been deferred by a month for political unrest,” MA Baki, managing director of Bapex told the Dhaka Tribune.
“Projects under Bapex will lag behind in implementation, resulting in gas production being delayed and increased project cost,” he said.
“We could not carry goods for the last one month fearing vandalism and hartal related violence,” he said.
“In this regard, digging wells will be deferred, consequently gas extractions will also be deferred, and its negative impact will be felt in the energy sector.”
He said extracted condensates could not also be transported for reefing to refinery centres for the blockades. Every day about 7,000kg of condensate is being produced from 19 gas fields as by-product.
“Daily goods for the site officials, employees and labourers were also stuck, this might result in suspension of production at gas fields,” he said.
“We were scheduled to transfer rig equipment from Begumgonj gas field in Noakhali to Semutang gas field in Chittagong. But we have failed to do so for one and a half months.”
Hossain Monsur, chairman of Petrobangla, said supplying gas to power sector will hamper the Boro production. Fertiliser companies will also suffer from gas crisis if the present condition prevails.
He said Petrobangla was now allocating 700mmcfd of gas for power stations, which would be increased to 950mmcfd-1000mmcfd against the demand of 1100mmcfd during the irrigation period.