Minister sees gas crisis in 2005

State Minister for Energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain yesterday said the country might face a gas crisis in 2005 if production from gas reserves could not be raised to meet the domestic demand.

He told BBC gas fields in the country can now produce1200 million cubic feet gas per day (mmcfd) against the sale of 1150 mmcfd. The demand will rise to 1300 mmcfd in 2005 and 1600 mmcfd in 2007.

The state minister said production of gas has to be increased by at least 300 mmcfd to avert any crisis. For this, an additional fund of Tk 2000 crore is needed, but the energy ministry does not have the money.

"We will issue bonds with the government as guarantor to raise the required funds if budgetary allocation is not made for this" he said.

Mosharraf admitted that a gas crisis affected many areas of the city recently. The crisis prevailed mainly in congested areas due to 'low pressure of gas' as too many connections were taken from narrow pipelines.