Low gas pressure hits port city

For the last one week, dwellers in various parts of the port city have been experiencing low pressure of gas in their burners due to the inadequate LNG supply.

The crisis is hampering the daily lives to a great extent while the state-owned companies for gas supply and distribution are busy blaming each other for the trouble.

“It has made our life chaotic. The pressure of gas in the morning is too low to cook, forcing us to buy unhealthy food from outside,” said Nuran Akther, a resident of West Khulsi.

“I usually avoid buying restaurant foods for my child, but I am helpless now,” she added with a sigh of disappointment.

Similar situation prevails in Halishahar, Chawk Bazar, Bakalia and Akbar Shah areas.

Mohona Akther, a resident of Bogar Bill area in Bakalia, said low pressure persist at least for eight hours every day --  usually from 6:00am to 2:00 pm.

“It's really tough to prepare food for my family in such a low pressure as it takes much time. If I make them wait for food, they will be late for office,” she added.

Officials of Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) and Petrobangla blamed inadequate supply of LNG for the suffering. But Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL), the company designated for LNG supply, is claimed that there was no shortage of supply.

Contacted, Khaiz Ahmed, managing director of KGDCL, said that normally they receive 350 MCF (million cubic feet) of LNG a day from the Petrobangla, but the amount dropped down to 250 MCF last week, causing the crisis.

The port city consumes 400 MCF of gas a day, he said, adding that they did not know why the supply was short.

Contacted, Managing Director of RPGCL, Kamruzzaman said there is no shortage of supply. We supply gas as per the demand of Petrobangla which manage the distribution.

Director (operation and mines) of Petrobangla, who is also named Contacted Md Kamruzzaman, dismissed the claim and said they were actually getting inadequate supply.