Energy specialists fear a crisis in meeting local demands with imported liquid natural gas or LNG.
They feel that due to the import of LNG, the general public would have to bear the brunt of the production cost.
In the international market, the rate of LNG fluctuates; therefore, how this will impact prices here has not been taken into account, says specialists.
There is a belief that with the import of LNG, gas usage of the country will face a huge shift.
The government plans to meet the gas crisis by injecting LNG into the national grid though confusion remains over the rate.
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) says that price would rise from 142 to 143 per cent, which is unprecedented in the country.
When production cost rises, the price of items in the market will soar, putting pressure on the masses.
Energy division says that unless there is a delay due to turbulence at sea, the LNG will be supplied to the nation’s pipelines on July 4.
On 24 April last, Excelerate Energy’s floating terminal brought LNG from Qatar. Later, dates were fixed several times though the supply did not happen, reportedly due to pipeline glitches.
However, the pipeline is now ready.
The Petrobangla proposal underlined supply of 1000 million cubic feet of LNG; however, the current Excelerate terminal is capable of transforming 460 million cubic feet of gas.
BERC technical assessment committee says: “the LNG supply will be 285 million cubic feet in July, 285 in August, 276 in September, 439 in October, 425 in November, and 439 in December.”
Speaking on the matter, Professor, Badrul Imam, of DU, says: “a situation to import LNG has been created by suspending gas exploration for a long time; also, it’s not being assessed if the people of the country will be able to take the burden of this extra cost.”
Adviser of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, CAB, Professor, Shamsul Alam, warned: “we should have increased local gas production. The rising rates will inconvenience the masses and increase industrial plus power cost.”
Former director general of power cell, Rahmatullah, says: it’s essential to assess how the LNG price will increase overall price rise in commerce and industry.”