After repairs to a broken floating storage regasification unit (FSRU), the government promised improved supply by mid-July, but the ready-made garment (RMG) sector in Bangladesh is still experiencing gas shortages.
According to business owners, the catastrophic state of the gas supply is still present as of October, and it is negatively affecting industry production and profitability.
One of the biggest textile producers in the country, Israq Spinning Mills, has been especially badly affected, with gas pressure falling to almost nil during busy business hours. As a result, production capacity has drastically decreased, falling from 160 tonnes per day to barely 60 tonnes. Similar difficulties are being faced by other mills, including Little Star Spinning Mills and Intimate Spinning Mills, which is causing them to suffer large financial losses.
This situation has gotten worse for about 700 gas-based enterprises in the nation after Cyclone Remal damaged an FSRU in May 2024. Even though the government promised to enhance the gas supply by the middle of July, as of October, many entrepreneurs complain that nothing has changed.
Officials from Petrobangla have admitted that there is still a shortage of petrol. They have stated that the present supply is at approximately 2,700 mmcfd, while daily demand is between 3,800 and 4,000 mmcfd. However, with the arrival of liquefied natural gas (LNG) bought on the spot market after 15th October, they expect a minor increase in supplies.
