The government is going to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) on a small scale using existing seaside platforms of various state-owned enterprises as part of an aggressive drive to meet energy shortages.
At least 200 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) will be imported through joint ventures of Petrobangla and the local private sector or foreign companies.
Already 13 foreign companies have expressed interest. Petrobangla on Tuesday signed an initial agreement with one of them, Gunvor Singapore.
Yesterday the cabinet committee on economic affairs gave approval for Petrobangla to use jetties of Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited (CULF) and Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Limited (KAFCO) and a platform in the Bay of Bengal of Sangu, the country's first offshore gas field.
The interested companies are PTC Corporation, Panama City & SKE & S Korea, Trafigura Pte Ltd (Singapore), Pavilion Energy (Singapore), Gunvor (Singapore) and Exmar Marine NV (Belgium), ExxonMobil LNG Market Development Inc (USA), Petronas LNG Ltd (Malaysia), Marubeni Corporation, JERA & K-Line (Japan), Wison Offshore & Marine (China), Hemla Energy AS (Norway) and MIE Holding Corporation (USA).