Disruptions in gas production and supply continue to affect power generation, industries, compressed natural gas (CNG) stations and households.
The deepening gas and electricity crises in Bangladesh have been compounded by a sharp rise in global LNG prices and supply shortages coinciding with high power demand.
Industrial production has been severely hit, with 70 per cent of the production capacity of gas-dependent factories staying unutilised, pressuring the export sector.
The energy crunch is no longer confined to power-intensive industries.
LNG prices have nearly doubled, while supplies have remained difficult to secure even after the government relaxed procurement rules and offered higher prices.
Industrial production has been severely affected, with around 70 per cent of the production capacity of gas-dependent factories remaining unutilised, pressuring the export sector, according to a domestic media outlet.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) feels the gas supply situation has somewhat improved, but remains inadequate for industrial production. Production in the readymade garments (RMG) sector had fallen by 30-35 per cent because of insufficient gas supply, with backward-linkage industries suffering the most, it said.
BGMEA has requested the government to resume heavy fuel oil-based power plants instead of relying on inefficient gas-fired power plants.
It also called for diverting gas supplied to inefficient gas-fired power plants to industries to ease the shortage.
Gas shortage is delaying industrial projects, raising manufacturing costs and creating risks across industrial, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) president Taskeen Ahmed told a recent seminar.
The energy crunch is no longer confined to power-intensive industries, he cautioned.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
