Summit shutdown to cut 13pc gas supply for 4 days

The country's overall gas supply will fall by around 13 per cent for four days from today as the Summit LNG Terminal suspends regasification operations for emergency maintenance.

According to a Petrobangla notice, LNG regasification at Summit's floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) will remain suspended during the maintenance period. As a result, LNG supply to the national grid will drop by 320 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd), from the current 920mmcfd to 600mmcfd.

Consequently, the country's overall gas supply will decline from around 2,550mmcfd to 2,230mmcfd, further widening the gap between demand and supply.

Bangladesh has a daily gas demand of around 3,800mmcfd, while actual supply currently stands at approximately 2,550mmcfd, leaving a shortfall of around 1,250mmcfd.

Petrobangla has warned that low gas pressure may prevail at consumer ends across the country during the maintenance period.

“The terminal at Moheshkhali, Cox's Bazar, would suspend regasification from 8:00am on November 4 until 4:00pm on November 7. Emergency maintenance was part of routine technical inspections aimed at ensuring the terminal's infrastructure continues to operate efficiently,” the Petrobangla notice said.
A similar maintenance operation was carried out at the terminal in December last year.

Bangladesh has two floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), with a combined regasification capacity of 1,100mmcfd. Together, the terminals currently supply around 920mmcfd of regasified LNG to the national grid.

The temporary shutdown of Summit's terminal will further reduce imported gas supplies, potentially worsening shortages in the power, industrial and residential sectors.

The authorities have expressed regret over the temporary inconvenience to consumers.