Production hit in Tejgaon industrial area as gas crunch bites
In Dhaka, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited controls the gas transmission and distribution network
Highlights
- Industrial production disrupted by severe gas shortage
- Gas pressure drops 10 to 3 PSI
- Diesel generators sharply raise production costs
- Low gas pressure halts boilers, production
- Generators inoperable, halting industrial production lines
- Illegal connections worsen gas shortages, Titas says
Production across industries in the capital's Tejgaon industrial area is being disrupted by a severe gas supply shortage, with factories increasingly unable to keep operations running.
Stakeholders say gas pressure has dropped far below normal levels, making it difficult to operate generators – the backbone of industrial production.
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On the ground, gas pressure during peak hours falls to around 2.5 to 3 pounds per square inch (PSI), compared with previous levels of up to 10 PSI, rendering generators inoperable in many cases.
In Dhaka, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited controls the gas transmission and distribution network.
During a visit to the affected area and talking to suffered factory officials, it was found that other industrial establishments in the Tejgaon area connected to Titas transmission line are facing similar disruptions.
Diesel use spikes production costs sharply
As gas shortages persist, factories are increasingly turning to diesel-powered generators – an expensive fallback that is sharply driving up production costs.
Md Abdul Mannan Khan, deputy general manager (admin) of Nabisco Biscuit and Bread Factory at Tejgaon, said industries have long been receiving less gas than required, with the situation deteriorating further in recent weeks.
A chief engineer at another factory, speaking on condition of anonymity, described a cascading disruption: without gas, generators cannot run; without generators, boilers remain idle. "If the boilers stop, our entire production grinds to a halt," he said.
He added that although both generators and boilers are rated for 15 PSI, such pressure is never achieved. From morning until around 9:30pm, gas pressure typically drops to between 4 PSI and as low as 2 PSI, rendering both systems inoperable.
The headquarters of Incepta Pharmaceuticals is in Tejgaon Industrial Area. Its Assistant Engineer, Jahangir Alam, said reliance on diesel is significantly inflating costs, as it is far more expensive than gas.
He noted that his company alone is spending approximately Tk100,000 to Tk120,000 daily on diesel to keep generators running.
"The company's main manufacturing plants are located in Zirabo and Dhamrai in Dhaka, where the gas supply situation is even more severe, forcing full-scale production to run entirely on diesel," he added.
In Dhaka, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited oversees the gas transmission and distribution network.
During a visit to the affected area, discussions with factory officials revealed that other industrial establishments in the Tejgaon area connected to the Titas transmission line are experiencing similar disruptions.
Industry insiders said repeated complaints to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company have yielded no effective response.
Illegal connections blamed
Responding to the issue, Engr Kazi Mohammad Saidul Hasan, general manager (operations) at Titas Gas, said there should not be any shortage in the area, claiming the company is supplying more gas than the capital's total demand.
However, he acknowledged that illegal gas connections could be causing localised shortages. "Legal users may not be getting adequate supply due to illegal connections. Despite disconnections, illegal use often resumes," he said.
He added that the company lacks a dedicated enforcement force and needs stronger government support to address the issue.
