Bangladesh is expected to receive its second shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) early next month, says an official.

State Minister for Energy Nasrul Hamid said that the ship carrying 138,000 cubic metre LNG is scheduled to anchor at the floating terminal in southeastern coastal district Cox’s Bazar on Sep 9, reports BSS.

“The second LNG laden vessel is scheduled to anchor the floating storage re-gasification unit (FSRU) terminal located at offshore of the Moheshkhali Island on Sep 9,” Hamid told the state news agency on Saturday.

He said the government has already imported around 1,36,000 cubic metre LNG to meet the country’s growing energy demand, adding, “The imported LNG will be supplied to Chattagram area and this will increase the supply in capital Dhaka.”

An energy ministry official told BSS that  100 mmcfd has been supplied to Karnaphuli Gas Distribution and Transmission Company from Aug 18 through the national grid to meet Chattagram’s energy demand.

The state news agency quoted the official saying the first consignment of LNG would be supplied to the national grid till Sept 9 and another vessel having around 138,000 cubic metre LNG would start supplying from the same day.

Bangladesh signed a 15-year deal with Qatar’s RasGas Co to buy 1.8 million tonnes a year of LNG for the first five years and 2.5 million tonnes a year for the next 10 after that.

Currently, the Petrobangla supplies approximately 2,750 million cubic feet of natural gas a day from domestic gas fields against a demand for at least 3,500 million cubic feet gas, says the BSS report.