Bhola:Bangladesh's growing demand for gas and increasing reliance on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) have drawn attention to Bhola's significant gas reserves. These reserves remain untapped due to transmission constraints, despite their potential to reshape the country's energy landscape.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Bhola's three discovered gas fields—Shahbazpur, Bhola North, and Ilisha—hold approximately 2.047 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas, with around 1.432-1.433 Tcf considered recoverable. This accounts for nearly 19 percent of Bangladesh's total remaining extractable gas reserves, which stand at about 7.63 Tcf.
Officials suggest that more accurate estimates of recoverable reserves could be achieved through further drilling and production testing. The Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) notes that Bhola's nine wells could potentially supply around 182 million cubic feet (mmcfd) of gas daily, though currently only about 75 mmcfd is utilized due to infrastructure limitations.
Petrobangla Chairman Mohammad Abdul Mannan emphasized the need to prioritize both increasing production and developing transmission infrastructure to effectively utilize Bhola's gas resources. Without a proper supply system, the reserves cannot significantly benefit the national economy.
On September 15, the national grid received 2,606 mmcfd of gas, sourced locally and from imported LNG. While LNG imports address short-term shortages, they also incur foreign currency costs and expose the economy to international energy price fluctuations. Therefore, increasing domestic production and integrating unused gas into economic use are crucial for long-term energy security.
Plans to connect Bhola's gas to the national grid are underway, with a feasibility study completed for the Bhola-Barishal gas transmission pipeline. A broader Bhola-Barishal-Khulna route could integrate Bhola's gas with the national grid in the southwest, benefiting industries and power plants in Khulna and other southwestern areas, while reducing dependence on imported LNG.
Local utilization of Bhola's gas could support fertilizer plants, power generation, and gas-based industries, turning the district into a larger industrial hub. This development would require investment in infrastructure and skilled manpower.
BAPEX is working to boost production, with a processing plant set to add another 60 mmcfd by December. Exploration efforts with Russia's Gazprom may lead to additional gas discoveries, potentially expanding Bhola's resource base.
Using Bhola's gas locally could also enhance electricity supply in the southern region, addressing the challenges of operating power plants at full capacity due to inadequate gas supplies. The government is focusing on domestic gas exploration, Bhola's gas utilization, gas imports from Malaysia, and solar power expansion to tackle energy challenges, according to Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood.