Discovery of new gas fields helps establish Smart Bangladesh: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said today the rational use of gas resources, discovery of new fields and construction of gas and coal-based infrastructures will act as the main driving force for establishing a Smart Bangladesh.

"I believe this will act as the main driving force for establishing a smart, prosperous and developed Bangladesh," the premier said in a message issued on the eve of the National Energy Security Day to be observed tomorrow.

Besides, the use of environment-friendly and alternative energy, the efficient use of energy and the prevention of energy wastage will speed up the achievement of sustainable development of the nation, she added.

"With the aim of increasing the production in the country's gas fields, we have had various activities in the field of exploration of new gas fields and development of existing gas fields," she said.

As part of these activities, a total of six new gas fields - Sundalpur, Srikail, Rupganj, Bhola North, Zakiganj and Ilisha - have been discovered, she said.

Moreover, the process of formulating 'Model PSC 2023' for oil and gas exploration in the Bay of Bengal is in its final stage, she said, adding that construction works of the Bogra-Rangpur-Saidpur gas transmission pipeline and the Rangpur-Nilphamari-Peerganj distribution pipeline are underway for expansion of gas network.

About four lakh prepaid gas metres have been installed in Dhaka and Chattogram, Sheikh Hasina said.

"Plans are underway to bring all residential gas customers under the purview of prepaid gas metres," she said.

"We have increased the storage capacity of fuel oil by about 52 percent," she said.

The implementation of the Single Point Mooring with Double Pipeline (SPM) project is in the final stage for safe and cost-effective unloading and transportation of imported crude oil and refined diesel in a short time, she added.

The project has been taken for setting up the ERL (Eastern Refinery Limited) Unit-II to increase the country's fuel refining capacity, Sheikh Hasina said.

In order for fast, easy, safe and cost-effective transportation of fuel oil through pipelines, she said works of the establishment of 624 kilometres of pipeline, including the completion of the 131.5 kilometre-long India-Bangladesh friendship pipeline, are already in progress.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Division is going to celebrate the 'National Energy Security Day-2023' like every year with the theme' Smart Bangladesher Prottoy, Jalanir Sashroy', an official handout said.

The premier wished success for all the programmes undertaken on the occasion of the day.