Excelerate FSRU halts supply again as LNG runs out
The terminal had resumed partial supply just four days ago after a 25-day disruption.
Highlights:
- Excelerate FSRU stopped gas supply after running out of LNG
- National gas supply fell to around 2,185 mmcf a day
- Summit's FSRU is now the country's only operating LNG terminal
- Excelerate had resumed partial operations just four days ago after a 25-day shutdown
- A fresh LNG cargo may arrive on 23-24 August
LNG supply from the Excelerate Energy-operated floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) at Maheshkhali stopped this afternoon (19 August) as the terminal ran out of LNG, further worsening Bangladesh's gas crisis.
Several Petrobangla and Energy Division sources told The Business Standard that the terminal stopped supplying gas to the national grid around 3pm due to a shortage of fresh LNG cargo.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
With Excelerate offline, national gas supply fell to around 2,185 million cubic feet (mmcf) a day, leaving an average shortfall of about 500 mmcf.
At around 8pm, LNG-based gas supply stood at 561 mmcf, all of it from Summit's FSRU, now the country's only operating LNG terminal. The remaining 1,624 mmcf came from domestic gas fields.
The latest disruption came just four days after Excelerate resumed partial operations following a 25-day shutdown caused by a fire on 21 July. The terminal had gradually cut supply since Monday as its remaining LNG stock dwindled.
Bangladesh has two FSRUs at Maheshkhali – Excelerate's terminal has a regasification capacity of 600 mmcf a day, while Summit's can handle 500 mmcf.
No fresh cargoes in pipeline
Petrobangla oversees LNG imports with approval from the Energy Division, while its subsidiary Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL) handles procurement.
Sources at Petrobangla and RPGCL said several LNG cargoes had been procured through direct purchases outside the regular procurement process to secure supplies at lower prices. Four such cargoes were scheduled to arrive this month, but none have arrived yet.
As a result, Excelerate's terminal, despite being operationally ready, has been unable to resume supply.
An LNG cargo is expected to arrive tomorrow and may be connected to Summit's terminal. A source said a cargo for Excelerate could arrive on 23-24 August, meaning the terminal may remain out of operation for several more days.
The latest shutdown reduced LNG-based gas supply from around 660 mmcf on Tuesday to about 550-561 mmcf today, while total national supply fell to roughly 2,180-2,185 mmcf.
