LOAB Seeks LPG Recognition Amidst Bangladesh's Industrial Gas Crisis
The LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB) has written to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) urging the government to formally recognize liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as an alternative and interim fuel for industries.
Due to severe gas shortages and low pressure, factory production across the country is severely disrupted. LOAB President Mohammad Amirul Haque wrote in a letter that the association considers the government's initiative to adopt LPG as 'highly positive'.
The association proposed an eight-point package of regulatory and policy reforms aimed at accelerating the adoption of LPG by industries. This includes removing regulatory bottlenecks, eliminating duplicate testing requirements for imported equipment, streamlining import approvals, and reviewing the pricing structure of LPG against imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) and domestic grid gas.
LOAB also wants LPG imports, storage, and industrial supply to be handled exclusively by existing licensed LPG operators rather than allowing individual factories to import LPG directly. This would ensure safety, quality control, and regulatory oversight while allowing industries to switch to LPG more quickly.