Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Bibiyana Gas Field Expansion Project and the newly constructed Bibiyana-Dhanua Gas transmission pipeline, expressing hope that these projects would reduce the gap of gas between demand and supply.
The premier said the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) has been organisationally strengthened for the purpose while modern drilling rigs and heavy equipment have been procured.
“It is my firm belief that these projects would lessen the gap between the national demand and supply of gas,” she said at the inaugural function of the project yesterday.
The prime minister said natural gas, the main source of energy, is environment-friendly and cost-effective.
“This gas is one of the main strengths of our agriculture, industry and commerce meaning economic prosperity.”
She also said that 73% of the country’s total commercial energy is met by natural gas which saves the country’s valuable foreign currency.
She said the international oil company, Chevron, is producing 830 million cubic feet gas every day from Bibiyana, the largest gas field of the country, under a production-sharing agreement.
After the expansion, Bibiyana Gas Field will supply an additional 300 million cubic feet per day and increase 4,000 barrels more condensate.
As a result, she said 1,200 million cubic feet gas and 8,200 barrels condensate will be produced from the Bibiyana Gas Field.
Sheikh Hasina added that 137-kilometre Bibiyana-Dhanua Gas Transmission Pipeline is the longest pipeline with highest diameter.
Under the project, a 137km gas transmission line with 36-inch diameter has been set up over Habiganj, Kishoreganj, Mymensingh and Gazipur districts, including a 67-km Haor area in Habiganj and Kishoreganj districts.
Petrobangla, GTCL and six other companies of Petrobangla bore the total expenditure.
Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL) implemented the Bibiyana-Dhanua Gas Pipeline Project spending Tk1709.77 crore aiming to supply to the national grid additional gas produced from the Bibiyana Gas Field.
Initially, around 300 million cubic feet of gas will be supplied through this pipeline a day while the capacity would be gradually increased to maximum 640 million cubic feet per day.
Spelling out her government’s steps for development of the gas sector, the prime minister said the government has discovered Sundarganj, Srikail and Rupganj gas fields.
She said additional 710 million cubic feet gas has been increased. The rate of daily current gas production is 2,454 million cubic feet, which was 1,744 million cubic feet in 2008.
On the other hand, the capacity of gas distribution has been increased to 2,454 million cubic feet a day and daily 830 million CFT is being provided from Bibiyana Gas Field only which will now be 1,200 million cubic feet per day, she said.
She also laid the foundation stones of Bibiyana South 400mw combined cycle power plant construction project, Bibiyana Power Plant -03 (North 400mw), Bijnai Bridge (Rosulpur-Roisganj Paniunda Road, including 90.1-metre RCC Girder Bridge and Nabiganj Upazila Muktijoddha Complex building.