Bangladesh Gas Shortages Worsen After Depot Fire

The ongoing energy crisis in Bangladesh has taken a turn for the worse after an industrial accident at one of its two storage and regasification units. The fire, which occurred last week in Moheshkhali, has disrupted gas supplies to homes, businesses, and key sectors such as the textile industry.

Jubaida Anjum Saba, an NGO worker in Dhaka who cooks for her extended family of 10 people, is struggling to find alternative cooking methods. 'We haven't been getting cooking gas since Wednesday,' she said. 'I've had to switch from one option to another, like sometimes using an induction stove, and at other times the clay oven.'

Bangladesh has long grappled with an energy crisis, but the US-Iran conflict since February has exacerbated it. The country imports about 30% of its natural gas needs, and total gas demand is around 3.8 billion cubic feet per day.

Following the accident, supply has fallen further to 2.15 billion cubic feet a day, from 2.7 billion cubic feet since last year. Factories, particularly in the readymade garment manufacturing sector, are among the biggest losers from the ongoing crisis.