CHATTOGRAM, Sept 8: Resumption of gas supply from the Summit Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) situated at Matarbari is expected by September 12 next, according to Petrobangla sources.
The repair of the damaged terminal has already been completed.
"I hope the operation of the Summit FSRU will restart by September 12 next," said Kamruzzaman Khan, Director Operation of Petrobangla.
Meanwhile, the repair of the damaged portion of the unit had been prolonged due to critical situation of the underwater damage caused to the unit. But a group of experts has completed the works to bring it into operation.
The existing Excellerate FSRU has been producing 600 million cft of LNG.
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 the sources. The sources said that the Summit FSRU suffered damages on July 10 last after arrival from Singapore during the anchorage at Matarbari.
Summit's FSRU returned from Singapore to Moheshkhali, Cox's Bazar after undergoing repairs to its ballast water tank on 10 July.
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 licensed and experienced deep-divers and DSVs to reach the FSRU site for a complete inspection and rectification process.
This gas supply disruption affected industries, residential areas, power plants, and CNG filling stations, resulting in long lines at CNG stations due to low gas pressure.
Meanwhile, this Summit FSRU, one of two FSRUs 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 necessary repairs.
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 last April. 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.
Presently the demand of gas per day in the country is 3,800 million cft. But the gas supply stands at over 3,000 million cft per day with less than 2,000 million cft of gas coming from domestic gas fields. The average gas production was even more than 2,500 million cft at the beginning of 2020, which was 2,200 million cft in 2023.
The government started importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2018 in a bid to meet the gas shortage. Currently, there are two floating LNG terminals. A deal has also been signed to construct a new one and a plan has been undertaken to build two more.
Meanwhile, the Advisers Council Committee on Economic Affairs recently approved a proposal in principle for procuring LNG from the spot market to meet the emergency demand for gas in the country.
The LNG will be procured from some 23 listed firms which signed Master Sale Purchase Agreement (MSPA) with the Petrobangla to meet the emergency need of gas under the Public Procurement Rules, 2008.
