Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood on Monday told Parliament that Bangladesh currently has 7.63 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of recoverable natural gas reserves, while the country is facing a daily gas supply shortfall of around 1,146 million cubic feet per day (Mcfd).
Responding to a question from Jamaat MP Md Tajuddin Khan (Meherpur-1), the minister said the country's recoverable gas reserves stood at 7.63 Tcf as of 1 January 2026.
He said the current daily demand for natural gas is approximately 3,800 MMcfd, based on the approved gas load of consumers under eight customer categories. Against this demand, the average daily gas supply during fiscal year 2025-26 up to April was around 2,654 MMcfd, leaving a deficit of about 1,146 MMcfd per day.
To ensure future energy security, reduce dependence on imports and strengthen domestic production capacity, the government has undertaken a series of initiatives, the minister said.
As part of efforts to increase domestic gas output, the government has planned the drilling and workover of 150 wells by 2031. Of these, operations on 28 wells have already been completed.
The minister said approval of development projects and other necessary activities are underway at the ministry, Petrobangla and company levels to facilitate the remaining drilling and workover programmes.
He also highlighted ongoing seismic survey activities aimed at identifying new drilling prospects. According to the minister, around 4,500 line kilometres of two-dimensional (2D) seismic data have been acquired in Blocks 7 and 9, while data processing is currently in progress.
In addition, three-dimensional (3D) seismic surveys covering 1,450 square kilometres around the Habiganj, Bakhrabad and Meghna gas fields are expected to begin shortly.
Further 3D seismic surveys have also been planned in several prospective areas, including 660 square kilometres in Char Fasson of Bhola, 650 square kilometres in Jamalpur, 632 square kilometres surrounding the Titas, Habiganj and Narsingdi gas fields, and 882 square kilometres covering structures adjacent to the Lamigao, Lalabazar, Gowainghat, Kailashtila South and Fenchuganj West gas fields.
To strengthen state-owned exploration company BAPEX, the government is proceeding with the procurement of two new drilling rigs with capacities of 2,000 and 1,500 horsepower respectively, he added.
The minister further informed Parliament that the government has taken a policy decision to connect the gas fields discovered in Bhola to the national gas grid through the construction of the Bhola-Barishal-Jajira-Mawa-Aminbazar pipeline. Implementation activities for the project are currently underway.
On fuel prices, Iqbal Hassan Mahmood said domestic fuel prices may be reduced if international rates fall to a tolerable level.
He said global fuel prices remain above the break-even point and that the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) continues to incur losses.
According to letters of credit (LC) payments for imported fuel between March and 11 June this year, BPC's cumulative losses stood at Tk 17,039.56 crore, including losses of Tk 78 crore from fuel sales.
The minister said international price movements have far outpaced government price adjustments. During the Middle East crisis, diesel prices in the global market rose by 152 per cent, while the government increased domestic diesel prices by only 15 per cent. Similarly, octane prices rose by 82 per cent internationally, compared with a 21 per cent increase in the domestic market.
