Future Bangla power plants to face gas shortage: Petrobangla Chairman

Power plants to be installed in Bangladesh by 2015 may not get adequate gas supply.

"I should say, they should not be hopeful of getting the required gas for their plants," said Petrobangla Chairman Dr. Hussain Monsur.

Power System Master Plan prepared by Power Division has projected generation of 13,000 MW electricity of which 7,000 MW by gas-fired plants.

Hussain Monsur admitted that there is enormous corruption taking place in giving illegal gas connections although there is embargo on new connections. "The corrupt officials and employees are very strong …. We've urged the government to deploy more magistrates to snap illegal connections," he said.

He, however, claimed that during the last three years gas production capacity has increased by 505 MMCFD while actual production was raised by 320 MMCFD. During the same period, production at different gas fields has reduced by 185 MMCFD for obvious reasons.