Gas supply rises, another LNG cargo to arrive today
Gas supply in the country has increased somewhat following the arrival of liquefied natural gas (LNG). More than 700 million cubic feet of gas is being added to the national grid from the floating LNG terminal in Maheshkhali. Yesterday, the total gas supply to the national grid stood at 2,333.4 million cubic feet. A vessel carrying LNG arrived at the floating terminal in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar, on Wednesday. Another vessel is scheduled to arrive today. This will be the second cargo of the current month. An official of the Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company said the highest possible gas supply from the Maheshkhali floating terminal is expected after its arrival.
He said the Saudi Aramco cargo had docked at Summit’s terminal. Since then, the terminal has been supplying 550 million cubic feet of gas. However, as LNG stocks at the terminal of US company Excelerate Energy are running low, its supply has remained at 180 million cubic feet.
Once the new cargo arrives, full-scale gas supply will be available. At that time, the two terminals are expected to supply 1,100 million cubic feet of gas. The government has placed emphasis on LNG imports to ensure gas supply from this month. To manage the situation, it is being forced to purchase LNG at higher prices. On Wednesday, the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved the import of four more LNG cargoes. Earlier, a decision was taken to import 10 cargoes this month, of which schedules for eight have been announced. One cargo arrived on Wednesday morning. Another vessel is arriving today. After that, another Saudi Aramco cargo is scheduled to arrive on September 10, a POSCO cargo on September 13, a Gunvor cargo on September 16, an Aramco cargo on September 18, a Total cargo on September 23 and another Gunvor cargo on September 28.
The process of importing two more LNG cargoes this month is underway. Approval has also been given to purchase four more cargoes for next month. Of the four cargoes, one will be purchased from BP Singapore Pte, two from Aramco Trading Singapore and another from Vitol Asia.
