Bangladesh Gas Crisis Deepens After Storage Unit Fire Disrupts Supplies -

Bangladesh is facing a worsening natural gas crisis after a fire at a key storage and regasification facility further disrupted supplies, leaving households, businesses and the country’s vital textile industry struggling with prolonged shortages.

The South Asian nation has been dealing with an energy crunch for months, a situation exacerbated by tensions in the Middle East that have affected fuel supplies. The crisis intensified on Wednesday when a fire broke out at one of Bangladesh’s two liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage and regasification units in Moheshkhali, reducing gas availability across the country.

The shortages have forced many households to seek alternative cooking methods. In Dhaka, residents reported being without piped gas for several days, while long queues have formed at filling stations as drivers of gas-powered vehicles face delays in refuelling. The disruption is also expected to affect electricity generation, as Bangladesh relies heavily on natural gas to produce power.

According to state-owned Petrobangla, the country imports around 30% of its natural gas requirements. Daily demand stands at about 3.8 billion cubic feet, while supplies, which had already fallen to 2.7 billion cubic feet per day over the past year, have dropped further to 2.15 billion cubic feet following the accident. Officials said it remains unclear when normal supplies will resume.

The industrial sector, particularly Bangladesh’s export-oriented ready-made garment industry, has been among the hardest hit. Manufacturers say dozens of factories have been forced to suspend operations due to the lack of gas, while reduced captive power generation threatens production schedules, export shipments and company earnings. Industry representatives warned that prolonged disruptions could have serious consequences for the country’s economy. – ERMD