Gas supply to the national grid from Excelerate Energy’s floating LNG terminal (FSRU), one of the country’s two such facilities, was completely suspended at 2:40pm on Wednesday due to a shortage of LNG cargo.
The suspension has left the country dependent on the Summit LNG terminal for a major portion of its imported gas supply.
Engineer Mohammad Nasir Uddin, LNG Division deputy general manager of Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL), confirmed the halt to TIMES of Bangladesh. He added that the terminal had been supplying approximately 100 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) to the national grid prior to the suspension.
Currently, the Summit LNG terminal is supplying around 570 mmcfd. Under normal conditions, the two floating terminals at Maheshkhali provide a combined 1,000 mmcfd to the grid.
With Excelerate’s supply suspended, the country is receiving only about 57 per cent of the typical combined volume. The two terminals have a total regasification capacity of 1,100 mmcfd, with US-based Excelerate Energy’s terminal accounting for 600 mmcfd and Summit LNG terminal for 500 mmcfd.
This latest disruption follows a persistent gas shortage that began on July 21, when a fire broke out at the Excelerate FSRU. Following that incident, supply remained suspended for around two weeks.
While the terminal resumed operations after repairs, the supply situation has remained unstable due to subsequent cargo complications and adverse weather.
The current cargo shortage was specifically triggered by delays in unloading an LNG shipment amid adverse weather conditions, further impacting industrial units, households, and compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations.
Upcoming cargo and technical status
RPGCL officials noted that a new LNG cargo for Excelerate is scheduled to arrive on 23 August, though efforts are being made to bring the vessel ahead of schedule to restore supply.
Officials ruled out fresh technical problems, confirming that both boilers at the terminal are currently operational. Although only one boiler had been working following the earlier fire, the second boiler has now also been restored.
Full operational capacity is expected to return once the new cargo arrives.
Aramco shipment returned
In a separate development, an LNG cargo supplied by Saudi Aramco has been returned without unloading due to technical compatibility issues and ship-to-ship (STS) transfer requirements.
Petrobangla General Manager (LNG) Deen Mohammad confirmed the decision to The TIMES of Bangladesh. The Liberian-flagged carrier, Alhamra, arrived off Maheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar around midnight on August 11 carrying approximately 61,000 tonnes of LNG.
The shipment was originally intended for the Summit terminal, but adverse weather and the inability to meet STS transfer safety conditions within the scheduled timeframe prevented the discharge.
Petrobangla officials said an alternative cargo has been arranged for the Summit terminal, and the supplier is expected to send a replacement shipment on a different vessel.
Officials added that another alternative vessel is expected soon and LNG supplies will continue through other scheduled shipments. RPGCL, a subsidiary of Petrobangla, remains responsible for LNG import and regasification activities in Bangladesh.
