Facing pressure over energy security, the government has launched a major initiative to boost domestic gas production, planning to drill 150 new wells and perform workovers, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced on Wednesday.
He noted that drilling has already been completed on 30 wells, adding 140 million cubic feet of gas per day to the national grid, whilst a further 85 million cubic feet per day is expected once work on seven ongoing wells finishes.
The prime minister made these comments in response to a question from Selina Sultana, a Member of Parliament for a reserved women’s seat, during Wednesday’s parliament session.
The government is also preparing a broader exploration campaign, with plans for 4,500 line-kilometres of 2D seismic surveys and 4,300 square kilometres of 3D seismic surveys to pinpoint new gas reserves. To enhance domestic exploration capacity, steps are underway to purchase two additional rigs for the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (BAPEX), he added.
Alongside domestic exploration, the government is expanding LNG import infrastructure.
A new floating LNG terminal is under development at Kutubjom in Maheshkhali, which is expected to boost import capacity by 600 million cubic feet per day within the next two years. Feasibility studies are also taking place for one or two further floating terminals near Payra or Mongla ports and along the south-western coast.
“These initiatives will further strengthen the country’s energy security,” the prime minister said.
Solar push to tackle energy crisis
Beyond natural gas, the government is aiming to scale up renewable energy to address the energy crisis. Responding to a question from Nilofar Chowdhury Moni, another MP for a reserved women’s seat, the Prime Minister stated that duties and taxes on solar panels, inverters, batteries, and associated equipment have been reduced to incentivise solar adoption.
A National Rooftop Solar Power Programme has been introduced to install systems on government buildings, educational institutions, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure.
“Special allocations have already been provided to various ministries and agencies, and rooftop solar systems have been installed at several government offices, including those of deputy commissioners and divisional commissioners,” he said.
Furthermore, the government will purchase surplus electricity from users who install rooftop solar systems within the next six months at a rate of Tk 10.15 per unit. Official estimates project that producers will gain an additional benefit of Tk 6 to Tk 7 per unit under the three-year incentive scheme.
“The government expects these initiatives not only to alleviate the immediate energy crisis, but also to accelerate the transition towards renewable energy and raise the share of clean power in the national grid,” he added.
The government’s strategy combines expanded domestic gas exploration, increased LNG imports, and accelerated renewable energy deployment to reduce reliance on imported fuels and secure long-term energy resilience.
