Gas supply hit as rough weather disrupts Bay LNG offloading

The country's gas supply came under fresh strain after rough weather in the Bay of Bengal prevented an LNG cargo from berthing at the Summit LNG Terminal, cutting regasified LNG (RLNG) supply by around 300 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd).

State-owned Petrobangla said adverse weather prevented the scheduled LNG cargo from berthing at the Summit-operated floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) at Moheshkhali.

It said the 300 mmcfd reduction accounted for around 11.8% of the country's total gas supply during the period.

"The weather pattern shows the sea will remain relatively stable and we will be able to berth the stranded LNG cargo with the Summit terminal tomorrow," Engr Md Rafiqul Islam, director (Operation & Mines) of Petrobangla, said today (7 July).

"The stranded LNG cargo is now rescheduled to berth tomorrow [today] at 5:30am, subject to weather conditions improving in the morning as forecast," said Md Sayedul Alam, managing director and chief executive officer of Summit LNG Terminal Co (Pvt) Ltd.

Gas supply falls

According to Petrobangla officials, total LNG regasification dropped to around 760 mmcfd following the disruption.

Petrobangla's gas supply data for 6-7 July showed the country supplied 2,534 mmcfd of natural gas against an official demand for 3,854 mmcfd. Imported LNG contributed 907.1 mmcfd, or 35.8%, while domestic gas fields supplied the remaining 1,626.9 mmcfd, or 64.2%.

Power sector bears the brunt

Petrobangla officials said around 150 mmcfd of the curtailed gas supply affected the power sector, while the remaining 150 mmcfd reduction was shared among industrial, commercial and household consumers, resulting in lower gas pressure in many areas.

Gas supply to power plants fell to below 800 mmcfd after the additional reduction, compared with 947.01 mmcfd supplied against a demand for 2,524.9 mmcfd during 6-7 July. Officials estimated the shortfall reduced electricity generation by 750-900MW.

Despite the disruption, officials from the Power Division and Petrobangla said the impact on electricity supply remained manageable because relatively cool weather and widespread rainfall had reduced nationwide demand.

Power Grid data showed nationwide electricity generation stood at 13,409MW against demand for 13,736MW at 7pm today, resulting in load-shedding of 327MW. The Bangladesh Power Development Board attributed the lower demand to rainfall across the country.

Data from the Power Grid also showed gas-fired power plants generated a peak of 5,444MW at around 5pm today before declining to 4,468MW later in the day.

The fertiliser sector also continued to experience acute shortages, receiving only 117.7 mmcfd of gas against demand for 329 mmcfd, while industrial consumers and households reported lower-than-normal gas pressure.