Dr. Barek Kaiser
For the past nine years, domestic gas production in Bangladesh has been steadily declining. Compounded by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and global geopolitical instability, importing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) has become increasingly difficult. Meeting the exorbitant costs of imported gas is exerting severe pressure on the nation’s foreign exchange reserves and the broader economy. Due to acute gas shortages, a major portion of the country’s power plants remains shut down, resulting in widespread load-shedding exceeding 3,500 megawatts. This energy crisis has adversely impacted everyday life as well as the readymade garment (RMG), textile, and heavy industrial sectors. Numerous factories have been forced to close, and operating generators to maintain production has significantly escalated operational costs. To achieve a permanent solution to this multi-faceted crisis, experts are urging a shift away from import dependency toward domestic gas exploration. In these challenging times, the technical capabilities of Russia’s state-owned energy giant, Gazprom, could serve as a decisive catalyst in overcoming Bangladesh’s energy crisis.
Since 2012, Gazprom has contributed as a partner to Petrobangla and BAPEX in addressing Bangladesh’s energy shortage. Over the past decade, the company has successfully designed and drilled approximately 20 appraisal, exploration, and production wells across onshore gas fields in the country. This successful drilling significantly increased gas supply to the national grid, directly contributing an additional 10 percent to the nation’s total gas production at the time.
Gazprom achieved particularly notable success in the Bhola gas field. In 2023, Gazprom’s successful exploration led to the discovery of the Ilisha-1 well, which was recognized as the country’s 29th gas field. This well has created immense potential for commercial production of over 20 million cubic feet of gas per day. Additionally, Gazprom completed successful drilling operations at the Tobgi-1 and Bhola North-2 wells in the Shahbazpur and Bhola North areas, paving the way for large-scale gas extraction.
According to Gazprom’s proprietary surveys, Bhola holds approximately 7 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) of gas reserves, which could fulfill Bangladesh’s total gas demand for the next seven years. Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BAPEX, Gazprom conducted this survey and pinpointed 19 new well locations in Bhola. Beyond the Bhola mainland, they have identified 30 additional new wells in Hatiya, Char Fasson, and Manpura, offering a beacon of hope for the country’s long-term energy security.
Gazprom has presented viable proposals to supply this vast reserve of Bhola gas to the national grid. As a short-term solution, they proposed supplying 20 to 50 million cubic feet of gas via small-scale LNG, and as a long-term strategy, constructing a Bhola–Barishal pipeline. Currently, they are working to conduct a comprehensive reserve assessment of the Bhola gas fields and drill 14 new wells. Once successful, Bhola’s gas can be integrated into the national grid across the Barishal and Khulna mainlands.
Due to workforce and rig constraints at BAPEX, the state-owned exploration agency was unable to drill multiple wells simultaneously. Gazprom bridged this gap using modern international technology and fast-track execution capabilities. Currently, BAPEX and Gazprom have signed agreements to conduct joint 2D and 3D seismic surveys in the Bhola gas fields, facilitating accurate determination of underground gas reserves and precise locations. Furthermore, Gazprom has agreed to provide technical support to Petrobangla in formulating a Strategic Gas Sector Master Plan for the sustainable development of the country’s energy sector.
Gazprom’s vision extends beyond onshore gas fields. The company has expressed strong interest in forming strategic joint ventures with Bangladesh for oil and gas exploration in the rugged mountainous regions of Chittagong and the deep waters of the Bay of Bengal. Despite Bangladesh possessing vast maritime territories in the Bay of Bengal, offshore exploration has remained stalled for years. Technical and technological support from an experienced international entity like Gazprom could inject fresh momentum into our offshore gas exploration.
The current severe gas and power shortages prove that over-reliance on high-priced imported LNG cannot guarantee long-term energy security. To safeguard national sovereignty and sustain economic growth, there is no alternative to exploring and extracting domestic gas reserves. Expanding strategic cooperation with experienced and trusted international partners like Gazprom can enable Bangladesh to recover rapidly from this crisis. The government should prioritize bringing Bhola’s gas to the mainland while giving serious consideration to Gazprom’s proposed joint exploration opportunities in offshore and mountainous regions.
Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Dhaka issued a clarification regarding inaccurate media reports concerning Bangladesh–Russia bilateral trade and joint energy projects. In a statement released on August 19 via the official pages of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy in Dhaka, it was highlighted that: “Since 2012, Gazprom has successfully drilled over 20 wells in Bhola and other locations, enhancing gas supply to the national grid. The embassy urges the media to publish objective and fact-based news regarding overall bilateral cooperation, including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.”
Author: Academic and Independent Journalist
