150 wells to be drilled to overcome gas-power crisis: PM’s Adviser

Mahdi Amin, spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office and adviser to the prime minister, has said the government has taken short, medium and long-term plans to tackle the gas and power crisis. Initiatives have been taken to dig new gas wells, increase LNG import capacity and expand the use of renewable energy to ensure energy security, he informed.

He shared this information with journalists after an exchange of views between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and leaders of 21 top business organizations and apex bodies of the country at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday (September 14). The current crisis in the power and energy sector and future plans were discussed at the meeting titled ‘Challenges and Future Roadmap of Bangladesh’s Power and Energy Sector’.

Mahdi Amin said the country currently has two floating LNG terminals or FSRUs. Prolonged technical problems with one of them had created dependence and crisis in gas supply. Now there is a plan to keep both terminals operational and add another FSRU by 2028 if possible. Work is also underway with the target of raising this number to five in the medium and long term.

The spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office also informed that an initiative has been taken to dig about 150 new wells in the medium term to increase the supply of domestic gas. If the first phase is successfully implemented, there is a plan to dig another 150 wells in the next phase. At the same time, work is underway on constructing a land-based LNG terminal instead of depending solely on floating terminals and strengthening the national gas transmission network.

Highlighting the plan to bring balance to the sources of fuel for power generation, Mahdi Amin said the highest importance will be given to solar power and other renewable energy in the future alongside coordination among oil, gas and coal-based generation. The government’s goal is to diversify the power and energy sector to ensure supply stability and energy security.

Mahdi Amin said business leaders raised various existing crises and challenges in running industry and business at the meeting. According to him, coordination between the government and the private sector will be further strengthened and regular dialogues with business organizations will continue. He also expressed the hope that the government’s policy support and the initiatives of entrepreneurs together will advance the country’s industrialization and economic growth.