A major gas discovery has been made in Bhola, a southern island district of Bangladesh. A joint study by Russian energy giant Gazprom and Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) identified this potential gas resource. The study found up to 5.109 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas. Experts say 1 tcf of gas can meet Bangladesh’s annual gas demand.
The study included both 3D and 2D seismic surveys in Bhola. The research covered Shahbazpur to Elisha, identifying 2.423 tcf of recoverable gas. In Char Fasson, they found another 2.686 tcf. The joint study, which began in 2020, concluded in June 2024. The report estimates the value of this gas at Tk6.5 lakh crore, based on the current LNG market price.
Alamgir Hossain, former general manager of Bapex, said this discovery could exceed 5 tcf. He added that previous estimates in similar fields were surpassed by actual extraction. This marks the largest gas find in Bangladesh since the Bibiyana field was discovered in 1998.
Muhammad Amirul Islam, a Statoil researcher involved in the study, emphasized the accuracy of the findings. The research followed international standards and used advanced technology like supercomputers. He said, “These methods make the findings reliable.” He also noted that if projects proceed, they could cover a significant part of the country’s energy needs.
Gazprom and Petrobangla are now working on connecting Bhola’s gas to the national grid. This will be done via pipelines from Bhola to Barisal and Khulna. They also plan to transport gas to Dhaka using LNG and CNG. Tenders for these projects will soon be available for interested companies.
Currently, Bhola has five wells producing 80 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd). Four more wells are ready, which will add another 80 mmcfd. Additionally, five new wells could supply 100 mmcfd within two years. In Char Fasson, 30 wells could be drilled, potentially producing 450 mmcfd.
Geologist Badrul Imam noted that Bhola and Sylhet are the most promising gas-rich regions in Bangladesh. He urged the government to speed up drilling and prioritize pipeline construction. However, he also cautioned against relying solely on Bapex, as the company is still growing. He recommended joint exploration with Petrobangla and foreign companies.
Gazprom has been active in Bangladesh for over a decade, adding 4.5 tcf to the country’s gas reserves. Petrobangla officials said Bhola’s gas fields were discovered 30 years ago, but pipeline construction was delayed due to economic concerns. Now, with increased reserves, plans for pipeline construction are moving forward. Bhola’s gas currently supplies local power plants and industries on a limited scale.
This discovery could help ease Bangladesh’s gas shortage, which affects various sectors. The country’s daily gas demand is 4,000 mmcfd, but only 2,633 mmcfd is supplied. The gas shortfall has severely impacted industries like textiles, cement, ceramics, and steel, where production has dropped by 30%.
The Bhola gas find offers a chance to reduce reliance on expensive LNG imports and stabilize the country’s gas supply.