Gas Supply Resumes From Excelerate LNG Terminal Amid Load Shedding
Excelerate Energy has resumed gas pipeline supplies from its Maheshkhali floating LNG terminal following a three-day shutdown caused by a fire incident. However, ongoing electricity load shedding continues across the country due to reduced coal-based power generation and significant gas shortages.
Excelerate Energy has officially resumed gas supply through pipelines from its liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal located in Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar, following a temporary three-day shutdown. The disruption originated on July 21, when a fire incident and subsequent technical damage struck Excelerate's floating LNG terminal in Maheshkhali, heavily impacting the national energy network.
Data recorded on Saturday at 6 PM highlights the broader energy landscape, showing that total gas supply across the country reached 231 কোটি ১০ লাখ ঘনফুট (2.31 billion cubic feet). Out of this total volume, domestic gas fields contributed 162 কোটি ৪০ লাখ ঘনفুট (1.62 billion cubic feet), while regasified LNG supplied from external sources accounted for 68 কোটি ঘনফুট and 70 lakh cubic feet. Despite the resumption, national demand stands at approximately 400 কোটি ঘনফুট (4 billion cubic feet) daily, resulting in a severe gas shortage of roughly 169 কোটি ঘনফুট (1.69 billion cubic feet) by Saturday evening.
As part of the recovery process, gas supply from the Excelerate terminal commenced on Saturday afternoon at a rate of approximately 10 কোটি ঘনফুট (100 million cubic feet). This follows a drastic reduction of roughly 55 to 60 কোটি ঘনফুট in daily gas supplies to the national grid in the aftermath of the July 21 fire incident. On Saturday, the electricity sector received approximately 95 কোটি ঘনফুট of gas, while fertilizer factories were allocated 21 কোটি ঘনফুট.
The resulting fuel constraints have severely affected power generation, causing ongoing electricity load shedding across regions including Dhaka. According to statistics recorded at 5 PM on Saturday, electricity demand reached 16 হাজার ১৫৭ মেগাওয়াট, while total electricity supply stood at 14 হাজার ২৭৩ মেগাওয়াট. Meanwhile, Adani's electricity production fluctuated, registering 955 megawatts at 1 AM on Friday and reaching 1,304 megawatts at 12 AM.
Distribution networks have also experienced severe deficits to meet consumer needs. The Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) recorded a maximum demand of 2,333 megawatts with a shortage of approximately 250 megawatts. Similarly, the Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO) faced a demand of approximately 1,500 megawatts accompanied by a shortage of roughly 400 megawatts.
