With the temperature gradually decreasing, Dhaka has started to face a shortage of gas.
Despite expectations that import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) would reduce gas shortage, even before winter has properly begun, Dhaka is steadily facing gas shortage as severe as that of previous years.
Recently, Chittagong has been receiving a daily supply of 300 million cubic feet LNG imported from Qatar, which has been sufficient in meeting its demand.
As a result, Chittagong is not supposed to get its gas supply from the national grid- thereby ensuring that the gas that was being supplied to Chittagong would now be supplied to Dhaka and nearby places.
However, if that was the scenario, then the city dwellers would not be facing any gas shortage.
Chittagong getting LNG supply; Dhaka still deficit
From August 18, 300 million cubic feet of gas has been supplied to Chittagong through floating terminals every day. Hence, all the gas extracted from the gas fields across Bangladesh - almost 2.7 billion cubic feet per day - is being supplied to areas other than Chittagong.
Distributors argued this would reduce the gas shortage all Bangladesh. But due to technical difficulties, LNG supply was interrupted from November 3 to 15, which later resumed from November 16. Even then, the gas shortage in Dhaka remains evident.
Speaking on this topic, Kamruzzaman Khan, manager (operations) of Titas Gas said: "Chittagong is getting a daily supply of 300 million cubic feet of LNG, and an extra 50 million cubic feet gas from the national grid.
"Before LNG, for a long time, gas supply in Chittagong was practically halted," he continued. "Due to the LNG supply in Chittagong, Dhaka is getting some extra gas as well, which is helping in running three fertilizer factories and a few electricity plants which were closed before."
When asked about the gas shortage during winter, Kamruzzaman said: "There will always be a bit of gas shortage during winter as the demand for gas increases.
“People use gas for five to seven hours to boil water, dry clothes, heat food and even to keep rooms warm."
In Kamruzzaman's opinion, even if the maximum amount of gas is supplied to fulfill the current shortage, it would not be enough, as demand is increasing day by day.
Titas authorities have said there is demand for a total of 2,000 million cubic feet gas in the areas under their jurisdiction. Aside from that, with additional supply to newly approved industries, there will be demand for an extra 200 million cubic feet gas.
Against it, the current gas supply is 1,700 million cubic feet, including 350 to 400 million cubic feet demands in urban areas.
Gas stealing a major problem
Fuel specialist Shamsul Alam emphasized upon gas misappropriation as one of the major causes of the shortage of gas all across Bangladesh.
"Firstly, connections have been increased in accordance with the increase in supply of LNG, thereby increasing the number of places where gas is supplied," he said.
He added: "Secondly, Chittagong has been suffering from gas shortage for quite a while; it is impossible to interrupt Chittagong's supply and bring it to Dhaka.
"And thirdly, gas misappropriation has not stopped."
Shamsul said: "Without stopping that, the gas sector is becoming a bottomless basket. Steps need to be taken to stop misappropriation of gas if the shortage is to be reduced."
Currently, those living in Tatibazar in old Dhaka, Goyalnagar, Radhika Mohan Boshak Lane, Sutrapur, Gendaria, and nearby places have complained of severe gas shortage.
But the areas facing the most severe crisis are: Mohammadpur, Shyamoli, Ring Road, Kallyanpur, Rampura, Banasree, and the places around them. At the same time, Uttara dwellers have also complained of not getting gas from morning till evening.
Banasree resident Hafiza Akter informed of not getting gas from 6am to 1pm. "Even then, there is hardly any gas. I cannot even boil water, let alone cook food."
She said there are no discernible differences between this year's and last year's gas supplies.
Suraiya Begum from Mohammadpur echoed similar sentiments. "I have seen no improvement this year. On the contrary, previously we used to get gas in the noon, and now we can only get it during the afternoon."
