Bangladesh Apparel Industry Seeks Govt Permission for CNG Amid Gas Crisis

The country's apparel industry is facing a severe gas crisis following the shutdown of the Excelerate Energy-operated floating LNG terminal. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) have appealed to the government to allow export-oriented garment factories to collect compressed natural gas (CNG) from filling stations.

According to a Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company letter, CNG filling stations were instructed to stop selling natural gas into open cylinders or gas cascade cylinders not mounted on authorized vehicles. The BGMEA warned of export disruption due to the closure of one of the two floating LNG terminals at Moheshkhali, which has reduced gas pressure in factories.

The BKMEA said its President discussed the matter with the secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division after learning about the Titas directive. The energy secretary instructed the Titas managing director to ensure that gas collection from CNG filling stations for export-oriented factories continues as before.