The government has stepped up domestic gas exploration to secure energy supply and cut reliance on costly LNG imports. Drilling has been completed on 32 wells in the past seven months, and they now supply about 147.9 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) to the national grid.
According to Petrobangla, the target is to drill 150 wells by 2031 to raise domestic production. The completed wells include 14 by Sylhet Gas Fields Limited, 11 by BAPEX and 7 by Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited.
The wells were initially forecast to deliver 134.4 mmcfd, but output rose to about 147.9 mmcfd after Habiganj-5 produced more than expected. Limited pipeline capacity means roughly another 60 mmcfd cannot yet reach the grid.
Drilling continues at seven wells: Rashidpur-13, Sundalpur-1 and 4, Titas-29 and 31, Bhola North and Bakhrabad-6. The 'Bangladesh Offshore Bidding Round 2026' has also been launched for oil and gas exploration in 26 offshore blocks in the Bay of Bengal.
Bangladesh currently needs about 3,800 mmcfd of gas a day against a supply of about 2,600 mmcfd, of which about 1,000 mmcfd comes from imported LNG.