The previous government undertook a project to drill 50 wells to meet the country’s gas shortage. A total of 618 million cubic feet of gas was expected to be added to the national grid by 2025 after the completion of drilling. However, only 18 wells have been drilled, from which Petrobangla has managed to ensure 194 million cubic feet of gas per day. However, due to pipeline shortages, 62 percent of the discovered gas could not be added to the national grid.

Although the project has only three months left for completion, discussions with senior Petrobangla officials revealed that the remaining wells will begin drilling within 2025. Petrobangla’s companies are working toward this goal. However, they said the work may not be completed until 2026.

According to Petrobangla sources, new wells are being drilled under this project, along with appraisal and development wells and well workovers. So far, Petrobangla’s subsidiary production companies have drilled 18 wells and ensured 194 million cubic feet of gas per day. But due to the pipeline crisis, only 74 million cubic feet is being supplied to the national grid—an insignificant amount compared to demand.

Investigations revealed that in Bhola, three wells were drilled jointly by BAPEX and the Russian state-owned company Gazprom. Among these, gas was discovered in the Ilisha-1 well in April 2023. However, even after two and a half years, extraction has not begun there. Gas was also discovered in Bhola North-2 and Tobgi-1 wells, but they could not be added to the national grid due to a lack of pipelines. Officials said the absence of a grid connection in Bhola is preventing this gas from being supplied.

The three Bhola wells have secured 60 million cubic feet of gas per day. The government plans to bring this gas to the national grid by converting it into LNG. However, energy sector experts warn that the plan is both costly and time-consuming.

Gas has also been discovered in Sylhet’s Zakiganj gas field, Noakhali’s Begumganj, and the Sylhet-10X well. However, none of them have been added to the national grid. Meanwhile, as supply from the country’s existing gas fields is gradually declining, Petrobangla’s top officials have stated that plans are underway to quickly add the discovered gas to the grid.

When asked, Petrobangla Director (Operations) Engineer Md Rafiqul Islam told Bonik Barta, “Due to the pipeline shortage, Bhola’s gas cannot be connected to the grid. Yet, there is 60 million cubic feet of gas available there. We are trying to add the remaining discovered gas to the grid as soon as possible. Gas from the Rashidpur-7 well has already been added to the grid. In addition, we plan to connect gas from the Sylhet-10X field to the grid by December.”

Energy Division sources said development project proposals (DPPs) for 18 of the remaining wells under the 50-well drilling project have been approved. Three DPPs are awaiting approval, while gas exploration is underway in six wells.

Engineer Md Rafiqul Islam believes, “It is not the case that the 50 wells will be completed within this year. But operations on all of them will begin. Completion may take until around 2026.”

Currently, daily gas demand in the country stands at 3,800 million cubic feet. Of this, local gas and LNG combined supply an average of 2,800 million cubic feet per day. The remaining shortage is 1,000 million cubic feet. With local production gradually declining and gas not being added to the grid as expected, Petrobangla has taken up a new plan to drill 100 wells by 2028.

According to sources, Petrobangla plans to drill 19 wells next year based on demand priorities. This is expected to yield an additional 277 million cubic feet of gas.