Largest limestone reserve discovered

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=236898

Largest limestone reserve discovered
GSB sees it as feasible mine

Staff Correspondent

The Geological Survey of Bangladesh yesterday discovered a limestone deposit in Panchbibi upazila of Joypurhat.

Moonira Akhter Chowdhury, Director General, Geological Survey of Bangladesh, told The Daily Star that the limestone deposit appears to be the largest discovered so far in the country.

Limestone is a key ingredient for making cement and Chowdhury believes that if the deposit is as big as the indicators are saying, it could meet the demand for limestone in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh depends largely on imported limestone.

“On the basis of scientific indications we can say that this is going to be a much bigger deposit than the old find in Jamalganj of Joypurhat and hopefully, it will also be feasible to mine,” the DG said over the telephone.

She said it was too early to specify the size of the deposit. “It will take one more month to ascertain the total reserve…”

The Geological Survey, which has made most of the coal, limestone, hard rock and peat discoveries in the country since the 1950s, yesterday struck limestone 456.6 metres below the ground. It drilled 5.5 metres further into the layer, which indicated that the layer was thick.

She said as the geologists were drilling deep, they were hoping that the layer would expand more. “The basin seems bigger,” she said.

In the 1960s, the then Geological Survey of Pakistan discovered a large limestone deposit in Jamalganj of Joypurhat. The deposit was between 518.16 metres and 548.64 metres under the ground.

Later, studies revealed that 270 million tonnes of limestone were there and 100 million tonnes of it could be mined.

However, the mine was later deemed financially unviable as the cost to control the underground temperature would have been too expensive and the layer was pretty far below the surface.

Yesterday’s discovery was much closer to the surface.

LIMESTONE IN BANGLADESH
In 1961, the Geological Survey of Pakistan found limestone deposits in Bagalibazar-Takerghat-Bhangerghat area of Sunamganj. The total deposit of around 30 million tonnes was found in four locations at depths between six metres and 100 metres.

At Takerghat, at least 612,371 tonnes of limestone were mined between 1972 and 1993, according to the Geological Survey of Bangladesh.

In the 60’s, limestone deposits were found in Bogra (nearly 2,000 metres below the surface), in Patnitala of Naogaon (300 metres below the surface), Paharpur of Joypurhat (500 metres below the surface) and in Jamalganj of Joypurhat.

In 1966, Fried Krupp Roshtoff of Germany undertook a feasibility study of limestone mining in Jamalganj and found the mine was economically feasible. In 1969 the government undertook a mining project that was never launched.

In 1978, the Geological Survey of Bangladesh came up with a fresh analysis saying that the Jamalganj deposit had 100 million tonnes of mineable limestone covering a 6.7 square km area.

However, the project was abandoned due to the high cost involved in controlling the underground temperature.

Drilling at Sunetra structure in February

http://www.daily-sun.com/details_ds-drilling-at-sunetra-structure-in-february_435_1_3_1_0.html

Drilling at Sunetra structure in February
1st well likely to supply 20mmcf of gas
Shamim Jahangir

Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (Bapex) Limited is going to mobilise an exploration rig at country’s potential Sunetra gas structure next month to begin drilling an exploratory well in February, 2012.

“We are preparing to move an exploration rig from Fenchuganj gas field in Sylhet to Sunetra structure late next month,” Bapex Managing Director Mortuza Ahmad Faruque told daily sun on Tuesday.

On Sunday, Bapex drilled a new well at Fenchuganj to produce 20mmcfd (million cubic feet gas per day) gas there.

Faruque said the Bapex drilling team is now preparing to drill the exploratory well at the potential gas structure.

The estimated cost to drill the exploratory well is Tk 800 million, which Bapex would receive from gas development fund, the Bapex chief said.

The Gas Development Fund has a fund of around Tk 8 billion, Petrobangla sources said.

In the middle of this year, Bapex had placed a Tk 2.79 billion development project proposal (DPP) before the government on drilling a total of four exploratory wells at Sunetra gas structure located in Sunamganj and Netrokona districts.

An estimated 2.5 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas was found at the structure.

The government has already decided to mobilise fund from the Gas Development Fund for the Sunetra project.

According to a previous DPP, the implementation period of the project was divides in two phases — exploration in the first phase from December this year to June next year and development of the structure in the second phases from July 2012 to June 2014.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Division, however, has sent back the DPP and asked the Bapex to submit a revised proposal immediately.

Bapex discovered the Sunetra structure last year through conducting a seismic survey on 260 square-kilometre area in the districts and estimated a gas reserve of over 2.5 TCF, enough to meet the existing gas demand for about three years or to meet the present supply shortage of 500 mmcfd for about 15 years.

To facilitate development works of the structure, a 3.5-kilometer driveway has already been reconstructed on an emergency basis.

The Bapex earlier had a plan to drill the exploratory well at Sunetra structure in the current month. But it was delayed as the construction firm allegedly failed to complete the driveway in time, a Petrobangla official said.

Bapex, the state owned exploration and production company, has already prepared a 20-year roadmap to explore oil and gas in 74 exploratory and development wells in 23 onshore block structures in the country, an official said.

According to the roadmap, Bapex would drill 13 exploratory wells between 2011 and 2015. By this time, it will drill four exploratory wells at Sunetra.

Fenchuganj gas field brings new supply in Jan

http://thenewnationbd.com/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=26652

Fenchuganj gas field brings new supply in Jan
Business Report

State-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) has made new gas discoveries in the Fenchuganj gas field.

The oil and gas exploration agency struck gas while conducting a test to get the size of the reserve and assess the daily supply volume that may come from a newly-drilled well on Sunday, BAPEX managing director Murtaza Ahmed Faruque said.

“It takes about one month to supply gas from a well after conducting the test. To this effect, it would be possible to start the supply by January-end,” he said indicating 35 million cubic feet gas may be supplied from the well which will be 81st in the list of the running wells in the country. A total of 20 million cubic feet gas is currently supplied from the gas field daily now and new addition will make the gas field a more important supply source to the nation.

Bapex earns Tk 880m profit in FY11

http://www.daily-sun.com/details_ds-bapex-earns-tk-880m-profit-in-fy11_428_1_3_1_6.html

Bapex earns Tk 880m profit in FY11
Business Desk

Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) made Tk 880.3 million profit during 2010-11 fiscal as it fetched Tk 1.67 billion income against expenditure of Tk 788.5 million.

This was revealed at the 22nd annual general meeting (AGM) of the company at a city hotel recently.

Mohammad Mejbah-uddin, chairman of Bapex board and secretary of Energy and Mineral Resources Division presided over the AGM, said a press release.

Members of the board of directors of Bapex and a large number of shareholders attended the meeting.

Govt plans to increase 1920 mcft gas by 2013: PM

http://www1.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=7&id=211411&date=2011-11-30

Govt plans to increase 1920 mcft gas by 2013: PM

SANGSAD BHABAN, Nov 30 (BSS)- Prime Minister and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina today said her government has undertaken a plan to raise gas production by 1920 million cubic feet by 2013 and 880 mcft by 2015.

“We hope that the daily gas production would be enhanced by 1920 mcft by June 2013 and 880 mcft by December 2015 from the countries different gas fields owned by local and international companies,” she said.

Replying to a question from treasury bench member Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury during her question-answer session, she said steps have also been taken to import LNG from Qatar at a rate of 500 mcft daily.

The Prime Minister said after assuming office, her government has been implementing various programmes to increase gas production considering its importance for the overall development of the country.

She said the demand of gas is increasing gradually as it is environment friendly as well as cheap. But, she said, a crisis has been created in gas supply as the past BNP government did not take any step to explore and produce gas keeping consistency with the demand.

Sheikh Hasina said the government has been executing short, middle and long-term programmes to solve the gas crisis. The production of 500 mcft gas has already been increased due to the steps taken by the government, she said.

The Prime Minister said the government has signed a production sharing agreement with ConocoPhillips under the offshore bidding round 2008 to explore gas in the maritime area.

Besides, she said, the Environment Impact Assessment work is going on to explore oil and gas, while the seismic survey work would begin by January 2012.

After the successful implementation of the programmes, the Prime Minister said the real reserve of natural gas would be confirmed and it is expected that the country’s total gas reserve would increase by 3 to 3.5 trillion cft.

Responding to a supplementary from the same lawmaker, Sheikh Hasina informed the House that her government has taken a plan to set up seven special economic zones in the country’s seven divisions.

The government would give priority to set up small and medium industries in the zones side by side with large industries, she said.

Answering to a question from ruling party lawmaker Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, the Leader of the House also said the present government has so far built 37 power plants in the last 32 months adding 2406 megawatt electricity to the national grid.

As many as 700 MW more electricity would be added to the national grid from the under-construction power plants by this year, she said.

The Prime Minister said the present government has so far signed agreement to set up 47 power plants with a capacity of 5247 MW electricity.

To save electricity, she said her government has undertaken a plan to distribute 2.8 crore CFL bulbs. Of them, she said, 1.05 crore CFL bulbs have already been distributed in the first phase, while the rest 1.75 crore CFL bulbs would be distributed in the second phase.

The Prime Minister also called upon the people to maintain austerity in using electricity and criticized the past BNP government and the subsequent caretaker government not to take any initiatives for raising gas and power production.

“The BNP and the caretaker governments failed to add a single megawatt of electricity to the national grid,” she said.

Bapex capacity building project set to get Ecnec nod

http://www.daily-sun.com/details_ds-bapex-capacity-building-project-set-to-get-ecnec-nod_409_1_3_1_4.html

Bapex capacity building project set to get Ecnec nod

The Executive Commi-ttee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) sits on Thursday to consider a number of projects, including exploration and production capacity-building of Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration & Production Company Limited (Bapex).

Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will preside over the meeting to be held at the NEC conference room in city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

Bapex and Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) will implement the proposed project under the Energy, Power, and Mineral Resources Ministry at an estimated cost of Tk 3.23 billion.

Of the amount, Bapex is likely to provide Tk 2.18 billion while KGDCL Tk 1.0480 billion, said sources at the Planning Ministry.

A Planning Ministry official said if the project is approved and implemented, technological efficiency of Bapex will be enhanced enabling it to carry out its exploration activities more efficiently.

Besides, Bapex will also be able to provide technological assistance to Petrobangla companies in carrying out their exploration works.

Once completed, the project is expected to reduce the gap between demand and supply of gas in Chittagong, the official added.

Under the project, he said, a 65 km-long high pressured gas transmission pipeline would be constructed from Semutang gas field to Chittagong Ring Main to ensure smooth gas supply in Chittagong.

The Pre-Ecnec (PEC) meeting on the project was held on April 13 this year where the Planning Commission recommended approval of the project.

The Ecnec meeting is also likely to consider another project on construction of 448 flats for government employees of the Parliament Secretariat at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at a cost of Tk 1.64 billion.

Under the project, 448 flats will be constructed for providing accommodation facilities to the officials and employees of the Parliament Secretariat.

Of the total number of flats, 56 will be of 1250sqf each, 112 of 1000sqf each, 112 of 800sqf each and 168 of 600sqf each.

The Ecnec meeting is also likely to consider further development of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agriculture University project with Tk 690 million, promotion of services and opportunities to the disabled people in Bangladesh (revised) project involving Tk 1.55 billion, modernisation and extension of Bangladesh Television center in Chittagong with Tk 380 million and Sylhet gas transmission network upgradation project costing Tk 910 million. —UNB

BPC to start talks to secure fuel supplies

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=157334&date=2011-11-26

BPC to start talks to secure fuel supplies

The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) will begin talks with a number of international oil marketing companies next week on the terms contracts to import oil products to meet growing domestic demand in 2012, a senior company official said Friday, reports Reuters.

A team led by BPC Chairman Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique is heading to Kuwait and Singapore to hold talks with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), Malaysia’s Petronas, Egypt’s Middle East Oil Refinery and Philippines National Oil Company (PNOC), an official said.

“In Kuwait the team will discuss quantity and price details with KPC on Nov. 30-Dec. 1 and with other companies in Singapore on Dec. 2-6,” he said.

Bangladesh’s fuel oil imports are likely to more than double next year to around 1.65 million tonnes, while overseas purchases of diesel may rise about 25 per cent to 3.74 million tonnes on growing domestic demand, a senior BPC official told the Reuters this week.

Besides diesel and fuel oil, Bangladesh will import 385,000 tonnes of jet fuel, 100,000 tonnes of 95-octane gasoline and 90,000 tonnes of kerosene in 2012, the official said.

In 2011, the BPC paid a premium of $3.14-$3.30 a barrel to Middle East spot quotes for diesel and $31.50-$32.00 a tonne to Singapore spot quotes for 180-centistoke (cst) fuel oil.

Bangladesh also buys fuel oil from Vietnam’s Petrolimex, PetroChina and Maldives National Oil Company.

The state-owned company is likely to face higher prices for 2012 supplies, compared to 2011, as fuel prices have been on the rise, traders said.

Spot cargo premiums for fuel oil have been holding at strong levels of above $12.00 a tonne, while Asian refiners have been selling 2012 term cargoes for gasoil at firmer price levels.

Domestic demand for fuel oil has been swelling as a shortfall of natural gas supply forced the country to turn to costly oil-fired quick rental power plants. The chronic electricity shortage has limited economic growth and investments in Bangladesh and often stirs public fury.

However, the move to import has put more pressure on the country’s balance of payments and inflated the government’s subsidy bill.

The government heavily subsidizes BPC, the country’s sole oil importer and distributor, which sells fuel oil to the local market at much lower rates than import prices.

The total subsidy for the year to June 2012 is forecast to jump to around 460 billion taka ($6 billion) or 5 per cent of gross domestic product, more than double than the original estimate of 200 billion taka, and up from 195 billion taka the previous year.

Production in Semtung likely to start from Nov 29

http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/finance/81725-production-in-semtung-likely-to-start-from-nov-29.html

Production in Semtung likely to start from Nov 29
Author / Source : NURUL AMIN

CHITTAGONG, Nov 25: Production in the Semutang gas field in Chittagong Hill Tracts is expected to start from November 29 this year, said Petrobangla sources. With the beginning of production there, supply of gas from the field to the gas-starved Chittagong will start from the very next day, said sources at the Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited. Meanwhile, a 65-km gas pipeline has been installed from the Semutang gas field to Chittagong.

According to the managing director of Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL), the company is ready to receive and distribute gas through the pipeline. It will ramp up the supply of gas to more than 25 mmcft in Chittagong, sources said.

Earlier, on April 20, KGDCL had signed an agreement with Technic Construction and Pipeline Engineers & Assocaites to install the pipeline at a cost of Tk. 20 crore.

The state-owned company, Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (BAPEX), has already completed drilling in the Semutang field. Total recoverable gas at the Semutang field amounts to 150 billion cubic feet.

BAPEX had started drilling in the field to supply gas to the Chittagong region.

This would ensure supply of 30 mmcfd of gas to power generating units against their total demand of 162 mmcfd of gas, 9 mmcfd of gas to fertilizer factories against their total demand of 115 mmcfd and 164 mmcfd of gas to other consumers.

With the beginning of production in the Semutang gas field, supply of the KGDCL will increase to nearly 250 mmcfd of gas in the Chittagong region.

Production in the Salda gas field will also begin in the first week of December, while production in the Sundalpur gas field may begin at the end of that month.

The Semutang gas field would supply more than 25 mmcft of gas, while the Salda gas field would supply 22 mmcft of gas every day. Moreover, Sundalpur gas field would supply more than 12 mmcft of gas daily.

According to a reliable source, Chittagong is now getting more than 216 mmcft of gas daily. With the beginning of production in these three fields, total gas supply to Chittagong will increase to more than 280 mmcft.

Ctg gas crisis to be eased

http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/others/80982-ctg-gas-crisis-to-be-eased.html

Ctg gas crisis to be eased
Author / Source : STAFF REPORTER

CHITTAGONG, NOV 21: The hydrostatic test of the 65-kilometre long 10-inch-diameter gas pipeline has been successfully completed this afternoon.

The officials of Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) are saying that they are ready to distribute gas available from Semutang gas field through the pipeline. The test of distribution of gas from Semutang gas field to Nasirabad began on Saturday and ended on Monday afternoon. The test has been successful cent per cent, the officials claimed.

Sanowar Hussain, managing director of the company said that the installation of 65-kilometre long 10-inch-diameter gas pipeline from the Semutang gas field to Chittagong has earlier been completed at a cost of Tk 20 crore.

Pipeline Engineers & Associates constructed 31 kilometre long 10-inch diameter  pipeline from Semutang gas field to Nazirhat, while Technic Construction constructed 34-kilometre long 10-inch pipeline from Nazirhat to Oxygen point in the city.

Sanwar said that the state-owned gas production company BAPEX had completed the drilling of Semutang gas field located in Chittagong Hill Tracts that may produce nearly 25 mmcft of gas daily.

The total recoverable gas in the field is 150 billion cft. The supply from the gas field is expected to begin in December.

BAPEX has started drilling the field aiming at supplying gas to Chittagong region.

Besides, the port city will get another 40 mmcft daily from the next month, the source pointed out.

The source said the production in Salda gas field will also begin in the first week of December while the production in Sundalpur gas field may begin at the end of December.

Semutang gas field would supply more than 25 mmcft of gas while the Salda gas field would supply 22 mmcft of gas daily. Sundalpur gas field would supply more than 12 mmcft of gas daily.

Chittagong is now getting more than 216 mmcft gas per day. With the beginning of production in these three fields, the total gas supply to Chittagong will increase to more than 280 mmcft of gas.

Despite the increase of gas supply in the port city, the demand, however, would not be met fully as it needs more than 429 mmcfd of gas to feed its all consumers including two biggest fertiliser factories and six power generating units.

Of the total demand of 429 mmcft, the Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company (KAFCO) needs 50 mmcft, Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Company Limited (CUFL) needs 50 mmcft, Karnaphuli Paper Mills Limited (KPM) needs 10 mm cft and PDB plants need 162 mmcft of gas daily.

British firm to get $1b project

http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/frontpage/40679.html

British firm to get $1b project
Manjurul Ahsan

The government is likely to award a one billion dollar project to a British firm for trebling the oil-refining capacity of the state-run Eastern Refinery Limited.

A government official on Saturday told New Age that the Energy Division finally selected the proposal of Foster Wheeler as the best of the 17 proposals submitted for the project implementation.

The bids made were of three categories — Public-Private Partnership, Build-Own-Operate-Transfer, and Investment only.

The official said the British firm quoted around $0.9b for implementing the project, Balancing Modernisation Rehabilitation and Expansion of Eastern Refinery, on BOOT basis.

ERL managing director Rezaul Karim said they sent the proposal to the Energy Division after completing their tasks.

He, however, declined to say any thing about the project.

The Energy Division will send a proposal within this month to the cabinet committee on purchase for its approval before awarding the job to the British firm, an Energy Division official said.

Once the project initiated by the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation is completed, the ERL will be able to refine 45 lakh tonnes of crude into diesel, petrol, octane, furnace oil, and other petroleum by-products a year.

At present its yearly refining capacity is a maximum of 15 lakh tonnes of crude and the government imports 50 lakh tonnes of diesel, furnace oil, and other petroleum oil to meet the domestic demand for transportation, power generation, industries, irrigation, and so on.

The BMRE project is designed to be housed in the existing ERL area and utilise the existing crude oil reception facilities.

The project also includes additional storage, ancillary utilities, and installation facilities.

An ERL official said the government would save $220m a year by refining a total of 45 lakh tonnes of crude with the state-run refinery. As per the latest calculation, the savings made by refining crude instead of importing refined petroleum products range between Tk 7 and Tk 8 per litre.

A government official told New Age that the contractor would complete the project in three years from signing of the deal and operate the ERL for 10 years for realising its investment and profit.

ECNEC approves Tk 1,650 crore Bibiana-Dhanua gas pipeline

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=212094&date=2011-11-15

ECNEC approves Tk 1,650 crore Bibiana-Dhanua gas pipeline

DHAKA, Nov 15 (BSS) – The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today approved four development projects involving Taka 1,971 crore, including Bibiana-Dhanua gas transmission pipeline construction project worth Taka 1,650 crore.

After completion of the pipeline construction project, Dhanua will be a gas hub and will ensure uninterrupted gas supply in the industrial belt of Dhaka. The project is expected to be completed by June 2013.

The approval came at an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC conference room in city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

“Of the total project cost of Taka 1,971 crore, the government will provide Taka 242 crore from the national exchequer and Taka 79 crore as project assistance while Petrobangla will contribute Taka 1,650 crore from its own fund,” Planning Minister AK Khandker told reporters after the meeting. Planning Division Secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam was present.

The Planning Division secretary said Dhanua would turn into a gas hub and there would be uninterrupted gas supply in the industrial belt in Gazipur on completion of the gas project.

The gas transmission pipeline project aims at supplying an additional over 600 million cubic feet gas per day (mmcfd) fromBibiana and Jalalabad fields to the national gas grid.

UK-based company Chevron Limited will produce this additional gas under a production sharing contract (PSC) with Petrobangla.

Under the project, a 36 inch diameter transmission pipeline from Bibiana of Habiganj to Dhanua of Gazipur would be constructed.

This 137-km long transmission line includes 4,500 metre river ways, which will cross through horizontal directional drilling (HDD) system.

The ECNEC also approved improvement and widening of roads and construction of drainage-cum-footpath of Barisal City Corporation (BCC) project, involving Taka 208 crore.

The project aims at creating improved road network system in 45 sq kilometres of Barisal City Corporation. It would also protect the divisional city from the Kirtankhola river erosion.

Under the project, widening and development work of nearly 3.5 lakh square metre road would be implemented. Besides, four kilometre town protection embankment and circular road, 43 kilometre drainage-cum-footpath, 19 box culverts and 76 metre girder bridge would be constructed.

The project also includes beautification of a park and 33 kilometre street lightening work in the city. BCC will implement the project following the June, 2013 deadline.

Two more projects approved in the meeting are: Multi-sectoral programme for prevention of repression against women (third phase) involving Taka 44 crore and ‘Greater Rangpur agricultural and rural development project (first revised) of Taka 69 crore.

Gazprom Zarubezhneftegaz keen to invest in Bangladesh

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=210274

Gazprom Zarubezhneftegaz keen to invest in Bangladesh
Unb, Dhaka

Global energy company Gazprom Zarubezhneftegaz yesterday expressed its keen interest to invest in large volume in Bangladesh’s gas exploration and power sector.

Gazprom’s interest was conveyed when Eduard Shevchenko, adviser to director general of Gazprom Zarubezhneftegaz, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in the capital.

Abul Kalam Azad, press secretary to the prime minister, briefed reporters after the meeting.

Hasina told Eduard that a congenial investment climate is prevailing in the country as the government is strongly committed to maintaining the atmosphere and providing the foreign investors with various facilities.

Zarubezhneftegaz was set up in mid-1998 in pursuant to the resolution by Gazprom and Zarubezhneft and in cooperation with Stroytransgaz in order to reinforce their competitiveness on the international market in expanding international business environment.

Zarubezhneftegaz has been Gazprom’s 100 percent subsidiary since early 2007. On February 11, 2009, Zarubezhneftegaz was renamed as Gazprom Zarubezhneftegaz.

PM’s Energy Adviser Toufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Sheikh Wahid-uz-Zaman and PMO Secretary Mollah Waheeduzzaman were also present.

Sylhet gas transmission network to be upgraded

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=211881&date=2011-11-14

Sylhet gas transmission network to be upgraded

DHAKA, Nov 14 (BSS)-Gas transmission network in Sylhet division would be upgraded for ensuring uninterrupted gas supply to consumer as well as for connecting more areas with gas coverage.

The main objectives of the project are to bring four new upazilas – Rajnagar, Osmaninagar, Balaganj and Bishwanath- under gas coverage, to ensure uninterrupted gas supply with more pressure through strengthening the existing network, to supply gas to 5,000 residential consumers, 200 commercial consumers, 35 industries, 40 captive power plants and 42 tea gardens.

Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Limited will implement the project involving Taka 90 crore, said an official of planning ministry.

The project areas includes Moulavibazar sadar, Srimangal, Rajnagar, Kulauda, Osmaninagar, Balaganj, Bishwanath, Madhabpur, Chhatak and Doarabazar upazilas of Moulavibazar, Sylhet, Habiganj and Sunamganj districts.

The main activities of the project are installation of 114km pipeline, right of way requisition for 82km, construction of five Cathodic protection stations and four new district regulatory stations (DRS), rehabilitation of existing five DRS and land acquisition for installation of pipeline and DRS.

The official said after implementation, the project business would be expanded in the project areas along with generation of new employment opportunities.

Sources said there is a huge demand of natural gas in Sylhet, Moulavibazar, Habiganj and Sunamganj districts for power generation, industry, CNG, and for the use of both commercial and residential purposes.

But, the Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Limited (JGTDSL), the authorized gas distributing organization of the region, could not meet the cumulative demand for gas due to its limitations. Besides, low pressure frequently interrupted the smooth supply of gas.

Bapex strikes more gas at Salda

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=2&id=211448&date=2011-11-12

Bapex strikes more gas at Salda

DHAKA, Nov 12 (BSS) – Industries in Chittagong are to get more gas supply as Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (Bapex) hit more gas in the second zone of Saldanadi gas field in Kasba Upazila of Brahmanbaria district.

Bapex officials said they would get at least 20 million cubic feet gas per day (mmcfd) from the third well of this gas field, which would be supplied to the industries in the country’s prime port city.

The state-owned company in July started developing new wells at this gas field, discovered in 1996 with a recoverable reserve of 116 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas. The company also completed necessary testing for gas exploration before this Eid- ul-Azha and got satisfactory result.

“Now, we are expecting gas production from this well later this month,” the official said.

Earlier in August, Bapex discovered gas at Sundolpur under Companyganj upazila of Noakhali from where it was expecting to produce around 10-12 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of gas from June next year.

Sundolpur was the lone new gas discovery in the past 15 years after finding out gas at the Saldanadi in 1996.

Bapex, however, announced discovery of a new gas field at Srikail in Comilla in 2004, which was later found to be commercially not viable.

According to Bapex, the company in September produced around 27.08 mmcfd of gas from its two fields at Saldanadi (well 1 and 2) and Fenchuganj when production from Shahbazpur remained suspended.

Chevron plans $1b investment

http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/finance/77065-chevron-plans-1b-investment.html

Chevron plans $1b investment
Author / Source : STAFF REPORTER

Dhaka, Oct 25: Chevron, the multinational energy corporation headquartered in the United States, is keen to invest fresh $1billion in Bangladesh to improve gas pipeline infrastructure, company’s Bangladesh chapter president Geoffrey Strong said on Tuesday.

He said the investment would be under the existing resources. In Bangladesh, Chevron operates Bibiyana gas field and is involved in supplying 30 per cent of total gas delivery everyday.

“Chevron’s fresh investment plan in Bangladesh might be a billion dollar or more,” Geoffrey said while replying to a question by a reporter at a seminar on ‘Promoting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Bangladesh’, organised by American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) at a city hotel.

Earlier, while presenting a key-note paper on Energy Security and FDI in Bangladesh, Geoffrey said the biggest challenge in Bangladesh now is gas pipeline infrastructure.

He said the country’s preserved gas is about 32 tcf (trillion cubic feet) which needs a huge investment for exploration and distribution.

“Here is potential for more gas production and Chevron is ready to invest on partnership with Bangladesh,” he said.

He said the energy demand growth will continue and the natural gas is the choice to meet the demand.

He said the global energy demand would rise by 40 per cent roughly, 15 per cent in the developed countries and 57 per cent in the developing countries by 2030.

Geoffrey noted that the entire world, including the developing countries, will require more renewable forms of energy.

“So, Bangladesh and the company like Chevron should continue effort towards investing more to meet the energy demand,” he said. AmCham president Aftab ul Islam chaired the seminar.