The ongoing disruption in gas supply from the Summit Floating Storage Re-gasification Unit (FSRU) at Matarbari underscores the vulnerabilities inherent in our energy infrastructure. With the Summit FSRU's repair and operational resumption delayed, the nation faces a growing energy crisis ominously affecting industries, residential areas, and power plants alike.
Since the Summit FSRU was damaged on July 10 following its return from Singapore, the repair process has been beset by complications. The underwater damage, attributed to a disconnected turret mooring plug issue, has been exacerbated by adverse weather conditions in the Bay of Bengal.
However, the delay is particularly frustrating given this unit's critical role in our energy supply.
Rafiqul Islam, Managing Director of Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Co. Ltd (RPGCL) has indicated that Summit FSRU might resume operations by the end of the month. This is a hopeful sign, but it comes with caveats.
The current operational FSRU, operated by Excellerate Energy, is working above its intended capacity, producing 600 million cubic feet of LNG instead of its designed capacity of 500 million cubic feet. While mitigating some shortfalls, this over-production cannot fully compensate for the gap left by the offline Summit FSRU.
Thus, repercussions of the delay have now become tangible. Industries are grappling with inconsistent gas supplies, power plants are struggling to meet energy demands, and residential areas are experiencing long queues of stagnated vehicles at CNG stations. The shortage has strained every sector dependent on natural gas, from energy production to everyday household needs.
Petrobangla, which oversees LNG importation and re-gasification through its two terminals, is working to alleviate the crisis. The state-run agency aims to re-gasify up to 8.33 percent more LNG or up to 650 million cubic feet daily until the Summit FSRU is back online. This effort is crucial for bridging the current deficit and mitigating excessive pressure on the national gas grid.
However, the current situation underscores the urgent need for long-term strategies to bolster our energy resilience. Investing in infrastructure to mitigate effects of natural disasters, improvements in emergency response protocols, and diversification of energy sources could all play a role in strengthening our energy security.
As we uneasily wait resuming of Summit FSRU's operations, it is imperative that both government and private sectors co-operate one another to address these challenges. Ensuring a stable and reliable gas supply is not just an operational necessity but a critical component of our economic stability and growth.
In the meantime, resilience and efficiency of the remaining FSRU and efforts of RPGCL and Petrobangla will be closely monitored. The road to recovery is underway, but lessons learned from this crisis will shape the future of our energy sector.
The Summit FSRU's return to full operation cannot come soon enough, but it is a reminder of the need for ongoing vigilance and preparedness in managing our energy resources.
