A boiler at the floating LNG terminal (FSRU) operated by US company Excelerate Energy in Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar, has resumed operation after being damaged by a fire, bringing relief to the gas crisis in Chattogram.
Deputy General Manager of Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL) Nasir Uddin confirmed the development to BSS.
He said the terminal's boiler resumed operation at 3:10 am on Wednesday and supplied 115 million cubic feet of gas to the national grid by 9:30 am today. The supply increased to 250 million cubic feet by the afternoon.
Chattogram had been facing a gas shortage for nearly two weeks following the fire at the LNG terminal on July 21. Officials hope the resumption of operations will gradually restore normal gas supply.
Several CNG filling station operators said gas pressure improved from this afternoon, while long queues of vehicles at stations in Tiger Pass, Kadamtali and Muradpur had significantly reduced since yesterday.
A CNG autorickshaw driver at Bahaddarhat told BSS that after struggling to refuel for the past two weeks due to low gas pressure, he was finally able to purchase gas worth Tk 500 this afternoon.
Deputy General Manager of Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) Md Yakub Ali said the damaged boiler had been repaired and gas supply resumed on Wednesday night.
He said gas is now being supplied to the Chattogram region through the pipeline. Around 200 MMCFT of gas is currently being supplied from Anwara, compared with the normal supply of 260-270 MMCFT, adding that the situation has improved significantly.
