Bangladesh to drill 3 new gas wells as govt clears Tk1,136cr exploration plan
Energy officials said the increased number of approvals reflects the government’s attempt to build up supply ahead of the winter season and meet growing industrial demand
In a major push to boost domestic energy production and reduce reliance on costly imports, the government will drill three new gas wells in the country involving Tk1,136 crore.
The project will be implemented by Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex), a subsidiary of Petrobangla, under the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, aiming to ease the pressure on the nation's dwindling gas reserves amid rising demand.
According to the project proposal, the three wells — Srikail Deep-1, Mobarakpur Deep-1 and Fenchuganj South-1 — will be drilled in three upazilas in Chattogram, Sylhet and Rajshahi divisions.
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Officials said the total project cost includes Tk909 crore as a government loan, with Bapex contributing Tk227.25 crore from its own funds.
The project is scheduled to continue from October 2025 to December 2027.
If commercially viable gas deposits are discovered, the three wells could collectively add an estimated 1,696.36 billion cubic feet (BCF) of gas, according to officials.
In an Ecnec meeting on 1 December, Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud said although gas from these new wells will not be available immediately, the steps are critical to avoid worsening shortages in the future.
The government has already taken measures to strengthen Bapex by procuring essential drilling equipment and machinery for subsequent extraction stages, he added.
As part of this long-term strategy, Bapex has already set a target to drill 20 new wells.
Based on extensive analysis of 3D seismic survey results and other geological data, the three proposed well locations were selected for exploration drilling.
Under the initiative, both Srikail Deep-1 and Mobarakpur Deep-1 will be drilled to depths of 6,000 metres, while Fenchuganj South-1 will reach 4,000 metres.
The Planning Commission has assessed that around 1,018.14 BCF of this volume could be recoverable, which would significantly bolster the country's gas reserve base.
In the meantime, the government has been importing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from the international spot market to manage shortages.
According to available information, since August 2024, procurement of 15 LNG cargoes worth approximately Tk7,500 crore have been approved, following a policy shift to open tendering that allows global suppliers to compete.
Energy officials noted that while spot-market imports help meet urgent demand, dependence on international LNG exposes the country to price volatility.
Energy officials said the increased number of approvals reflects the government's attempt to build up supply ahead of the winter season and meet growing industrial demand.
Bangladesh is grappling with a gas crisis as dwindling supply, maintenance issues, and rising winter demand continue to disrupt household cooking, industrial production, and power generation across the country.
Consumers in Dhaka and several other major cities reported that gas pressure has remained unusually low since late last week, with some neighbourhoods experiencing nearly zero supply during peak hours.
Many households have been forced to shift to costly alternative fuels, including LPG cylinders and electric stoves, to continue cooking.
Industrial zones in Gazipur, Narayanganj, Chattogram, and Narsingdi have also reported significant production losses.
Bangladesh currently faces a daily gas supply shortfall of around 400–500 million cubic feet, officials said, noting that the figure may rise further if demand continues to increase in winter.
In many residential areas of the capital — particularly Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Basabo, and parts of Uttara — residents complained that they have been struggling for hours each day without adequate gas pressure.
Energy experts sat unless domestic exploration is accelerated and storage and transmission capacity enhanced, the country's reliance on imported LNG and its exposure to global market fluctuations will continue to make Bangladesh vulnerable to energy crises.
