Arya News - First 150-well programme already under way, third LNG terminal targeted before 2028, says Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin.
DHAKA – The government plans to drill 300 gas wells in two phases and set up three new LNG terminals to strengthen Bangladesh’s energy supply, Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin said today.
Speaking at a special press conference at PMO, Mahdi, also the Prime Minister’s Adviser, said work had already begun on a medium-term programme to drill 150 wells across the country to address the gas crisis. Another 150 wells would be drilled in the next phase, he said.
The government also plans to add three LNG terminals to the two existing facilities, with efforts under way to make the third terminal operational before 2028, Mahdi said.
It is also expanding the Eastern Refinery in Chattogram, for which around $1 billion in international financing has been secured, he added.
Referring to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent meeting with business and industrial leaders, he said the government had assured them of measures to improve gas supply.
Gas flow has since increased significantly, and the situation is expected to improve further, he said.
Mahdi also welcomed Moody’s Ratings’ decision to revise Bangladesh’s credit outlook from “negative” to “stable”, calling it “good news”.
He said the development would help attract foreign investment and strengthen Bangladesh’s international standing, with potential positive impacts on trade, investment and employment.
He also said inflation had declined from both a year earlier and the previous month, citing Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics data. He added that diesel prices in Bangladesh were relatively lower than in many other countries, particularly neighbouring ones.
Mahdi said the government had taken initiatives in youth empowerment, education, healthcare, transport, social protection, energy, climate resilience and institutional reform.
He said remittance inflow increased by 13.10 percent in six months, while opportunities had been created for around 10,000 Bangladeshi workers a year to migrate legally to Italy after language and technical training.
The government has also taken steps to ensure fertiliser supplies until next February, maintaining a surplus of 1.568 million tonnes above demand, he said.
Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibli said the government was now on its 212th day in office and that some initiatives had already produced results, while others would take more time.
He also said the gas and electricity situation had come under control.
Asked about the cancellation of journalists’ PID passes, Shibli said law enforcement agencies could issue or withdraw passes according to state rules, adding that the government would look into incidents when necessary.
Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon said the prime minister believed in press freedom but added that the freedom should not be misused.