Industry Gets Relief, Households Continue to Suffer

The country’s energy and power sectors are facing a striking contradiction. Government statistics show that gas and power generation have increased, with improved supplies raising industrial production capacity to around 60 percent. At the same time, residential consumers continue to face low gas pressure, regular load-shedding and higher monthly bills.
A director of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), however, said recent reductions in power generation were not caused by a supply crisis but by weather conditions and local technical faults.

According to Petrobangla, total gas supply stood at 2,606 million cubic feet per day last Thursday. Domestic sources supplied 1,614 million cubic feet, while imported liquefied natural gas(LNG) accounted for 992 million cubic feet. Domestic gas therefore made up around 62 percent of supply and imported LNG 38 percent.
Daily demand is estimated at 3.8 to 3.86 billion cubic feet, against supply of around 2.6 billion cubic feet, leaving a shortfall of nearly 1.2 billion cubic feet every day.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit said the situation was returning to the level before July 21 as imports increased and floating storage units operated at full capacity. Of nine LNG cargoes scheduled for the current month, four have arrived, while the government has decided to purchase two cargoes a month from October to June, totaling 18 cargoes.
According to the latest Power Grid Bangladesh data, total power generation stood at 14,499 MW at 2pm last Thursday. Gas-fired plants produced 5,222 MW, coal-fired plants 4,597 MW, liquid-fuel plants 2,054 MW, solar plants 333 MW, hydropower 222 MW and wind power 6 MW.

Power imports included 1,130 MW from Adani, 899 MW through the Bheramara HVDC line and 36 MW from Tripura. However, daily demand is 18,000 MW or more. Regular load-shedding of 2,500 to 3,500 MW has been reported over the past two months. Gas-fired power plants, which require around 1.2 billion cubic feet of gas, were receiving only 850-900 million cubic feet.
BPDB Director Shamim Hasan told Daily Inqilab that a sudden decline of around 1,800 MW in generation did not indicate a crisis. Power Grid data showed generation falling from 16,313 MW at 11pm Wednesday to 14,514 MW at 3pm Thursday.

Explaining the decline, he said rainfall had lowered temperatures, reducing the use of air conditioners and other electrical appliances. Changes in consumption patterns had reduced demand by 2,000 to 2,500 MW. He said there was currently no official or scheduled load-shedding nationwide and no central pressure on power generation. According to him, disruptions in different areas were mainly caused by local technical problems, including transformer failures and damaged lines.

The government is currently prioritising industrial and commercial consumers in gas and power distribution, particularly export-oriented and garment factories. Supplies have increased in industrial belts including Chattogram, Gazipur, Savar, Ashulia, Bhulta and Narsingdi.
In Gazipur, for example, gas supply to factories has increased from 260 million to 400 million cubic feet. The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association said gas pressure at mills improved from the evening of September 15, bringing relief to yarn and fabric manufacturers.

Residential consumers, however, are facing severe shortages. Gas pressure has fallen so sharply in many areas that cooking with pipeline gas has become difficult or impossible.
Illegal gas and electricity connections are also being blamed for worsening the crisis. Electricity theft reportedly includes hooking directly into transformers or transmission lines, tampering with meters and illegally charging battery-powered easy-bikes and three-wheelers. Illegal gas use by CNG-run vehicles is another concern.
Energy experts and representatives of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh argue that a significant portion of distribution companies’ system losses is actually linked to theft rather than technical losses. They say repeated increases in gas and electricity prices to compensate for such losses ultimately place the burden on middle-income consumers.

The gas shortage has also pushed many households toward induction and electric stoves. The sudden increase in residential electricity consumption is putting additional pressure on local transformers and distribution lines, potentially contributing to further load-shedding.
The use of gas booster machines has also increased in some households to draw gas despite low pressure. However, experts say such use can further reduce pressure in the network and increase the suffering of consumers who do not use boosters.

The government has announced a zero-tolerance policy against illegal connections. Senior Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division Mohammad Mahbub Hossain said nationwide drives were being conducted through Titas Gas and district administrations. Under the Gas Act 2010, illegal users and syndicates now face criminal cases and double fines, in addition to disconnection.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has also spoken of exploring 130 new gas wells. Consumer representatives, however, argue that corruption and theft within the system must first be eliminated. They claim that completely removing illegal connections could substantially ease gas-pressure problems for households and legitimate industries.
The government is taking measures to increase gas and power supplies through higher imports, gas exploration and increased industrial allocation. Industrial gas supplies have raised production capacity to around 60 percent, while supplies in Chattogram have reportedly returned close to normal.
Residential consumers, however, continue to suffer. Although load-shedding is gradually declining, the situation has not improved overnight.

While BPDB officials attribute power disruptions mainly to weather and local technical faults, consumers and experts point to illegal gas and electricity connections, syndicates, excessive use of gas boosters, illegal CNG and auto-rickshaw gas consumption, and distribution-system losses.

They argue that without addressing theft and corruption, ordinary consumers will continue paying higher bills while remaining deprived of reliable gas and electricity services. Increasing production alone, they say, will not be sufficient without ensuring transparency and accountability in the distribution system.