Bangladesh Imposes Curbs on Power Use Amid Worsening Gas Shortages

Bangladesh is facing a severe energy crisis due to natural gas shortages and disruptions in global fuel markets. To mitigate this, the government has implemented electricity-saving measures, including closing shops and markets by 8pm.

The move aims to reduce power consumption by limiting commercial activities during peak hours. However, hospitals, pharmacies, and food-related businesses are exempt from these restrictions.

Natural gas shortages have reduced electricity generation, resulting in a shortfall of several hundred megawatts during peak hours. The Iran crisis has exacerbated the situation, causing volatility in global fuel prices and reducing LNG availability.

Bangladesh relies heavily on imported LNG due to declining domestic gas production. A recent outage at an LNG terminal further strained supplies, temporarily reducing gas flows to the national grid.