CHATTOGRAM Aug 14: Resumption of gas supply from the Summit Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) situated at Matarbari is unlikely soon.
The repair of the damaged terminal has been prolonged due to critical situation of the underwater damage caused to the Unit.
But a group of expert have been continuing untiring efforts to bring it into operation.
"The Summit FSRU may resume operation at the end of the current month,' said Rafiqul Islam, the Managing Director of Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Co Ltd (RPGCL).
He also said the existing Excellerate FSRU has been producing 600 million cft of LNG.
The RPGCL sources said experts attempt to repair the damage had been affected due to continuing bad weather, strong winds and large waves in the Bay of Bengal for the last few weeks.
The Singapore-based service providers traced the damage to the disconnectable turret mooring plug located in the subsea landing pad through which it holds the FSRU, said sources.
The sources said the Summit FSRU suffered damages on July 10 last after arrival from Singapore during mooring at Matarbari.
Summit's FSRU returned from Singapore to Moheshkhali in Cox's Bazar after undergoing repairs to its ballast water tank on July 10.
On July 11 last, while preparing to moor the FSRU with the Disconnectable Turret Mooring (DTM) plug in the subsea landing pad, an unexpected entanglement and subsequent damage to the DTM buoy messenger line occurred.
Summit promptly assigned local divers who identified the entanglement.
Later, Summit promptly engaged a Singapore-based service provider and employed an internationally licenced and experienced deep-divers and DSVs to reach the FSRU site for a complete inspection and rectification process which is going on promptly.
This disruption affected industries, residential areas, power plants, and CNG filling stations, resulting in long lines at CNG stations due to low gas pressure.
Meanwhile, the Summit FSRU, one of two FSRU at Matarbari had been damaged during recent cyclone Remal.
Then it left for Singapore for necessary repair. After complete repair, the Summit FSRU had arrived in Matarbari. One broken stray steel structure weighing "hundreds of tonnes" had hit the Summit FSRU when Cyclone Remal lashed Bangladesh in May, causing significant damage.
The FSRU discharged the LNG it had carried before heading to Singapore for repair.
Presently, one Excellerate Energy (FSRU) is producing over 600 million cft of gas, over its production capacity of 500 million cft. The production capacity of Excellerate FSRU had increased after maintenance in Singapore in the April last.
The RPGCL, a subsidiary of state-owned Petrobangla, has been responsible to import LNG from abroad and receive re-gasification service from the existing two LNG terminals in Moheshkhali, one set up by Summit Group and another by US-based Excelerate Energy.
Each LNG terminal has a capacity to supply 500 mmcfd gas to the national gas network from which a major portion is supplied to Chattagram.
Meanwhile, Petrobangla intends to re-gasify up to 8.33 per cent more LNG or up to 650 mmcfd of LNG until resumption of Summit's FSRU after carrying out overhauling to resolve the ongoing natural gas crisis in the country.
Petrobangla had indicated that connecting the terminal to the grid pipeline would take 15 days, suggesting a resumption date of July 30 last.
The delay in repair works due to complexities in the underwater pipeline work, exacerbated by recent weather conditions prolonged the resumption of the operation.
The current daily gas demand in the country is 4,000 million cubic feet. With both terminals operational, 3,100 to 3,200 million cubic feet are supplied.
Currently, only 2,600 million cubic feet are being supplied, resulting in a deficit of at least 500 million cubic feet.
This shortfall has impacted power generation, industrial operations and household supply.
