Dhaka, August 16: Bangladesh’s ongoing electricity and gas crisis is unlikely to be resolved in the short term and could take at least two years to overcome, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said on Sunday.
Speaking at a luncheon discussion organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) in Dhaka, the minister said the problems surrounding gas and electricity could not be fixed within six months or even a year.
“An economy cannot progress without gas and electricity,” the minister said, stressing the importance of reliable energy supplies for economic activity and investment.
Khosru said the government was working to address the shortages, but major infrastructure projects would require considerable time. He pointed to plans for floating LNG terminals and onshore gas storage facilities, saying that establishing such infrastructure could itself take around one-and-a-half to two years.
The minister also identified electricity transmission as a major challenge. While Bangladesh has substantial power-generation capacity, constraints in the transmission system are affecting the effective delivery of electricity, he said.
The government is also working on a new integrated energy mix that would combine renewable energy, gas-based generation and coal, according to the minister. He said major changes in the power and gas sectors were expected as these plans progress.
Bangladesh has been facing worsening gas shortages and power disruptions in recent weeks, prompting the authorities to introduce stricter electricity-conservation measures. The government has been seeking to manage demand while addressing fuel-supply constraints.
The prolonged energy crunch poses a significant challenge for Bangladesh’s industrial sector and investment climate, as reliable gas and electricity supplies remain critical for manufacturing, business operations and economic growth.