Existing gas reserves to meet demand for another 12 years: Energy Minister

The country's existing gas reserves can meet national demand for approximately another 12 years, said Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud.

The minister provided this information in response to a question from Bogura-4 MP Md Mosharraf Hossain in the National Parliament on Sunday, April 19.

The minister said the total recoverable gas reserves in the country currently stand at 29.74 trillion cubic feet. Of this, 22.11 trillion cubic feet had been extracted by December 2025. As a result, the remaining gas as of January 1, 2026, amounts to 7.63 trillion cubic feet.

He stated that even if no new gas fields are discovered and daily supply continues at the current rate of approximately 1,700 million cubic feet, these reserves will meet demand for about another 12 years.

Regarding gas exploration activities, the minister said that under Petrobangla's master plan for well drilling and workover, there are plans to drill a total of 50 wells initially, and subsequently 100 wells. Of these, drilling and workover of 26 wells have already been completed. Work on the remaining wells is ongoing at various stages.

Highlighting progress on seismic surveys, he said 3,600 kilometres of 2D seismic data collection has been completed in Blocks 7 and 9 through Bapex, and data processing is currently underway.

Additionally, preparations are underway to collect 3D seismic data over an area of 1,450 square kilometres in the Habiganj, Bakhrabad and Meghna areas through the Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited (BGFCL).

The minister further informed that plans have also been taken to conduct larger-scale 3D seismic surveys in various parts of the country through Bapex and SGFL.