The government can get supply of 107 mmcfd gas from the wells of Bhola if effective measures are taken to boost supply from this island field.

“Currently, we are supplying 75 mmcfd gas through Sundarban gas company Ltd from Bhola’s six wells,” an official of Bapex today (Tuesday).

He said some 47 mmcfd gas remains unused due to lack of proper supply system, as there is no pipeline or other system to supply gas to the mainland for industrial usage.

The government has also been working under a project to install a process plant for production of additional 60 mmcfd gas from three other wells-Bhola North-1, Bhola North-2 and Ilisha-1.

Installation work of the process plant under the project began in January 2025, which is expected to complete in December this year.

According to Bapex, the country can use 182 mmcfd gas from Bhola’s nine wells, which can help mitigate country’s prevailing gas shortage to some extent.

The interim government approved an energy sector proposal aimed at strengthening domestic gas exploration and enhancing long-term energy security.

The advisers council committee of the immediate past interim government on government purchase approved a project involving the drilling of four appraisal-cum-development wells—Shahbazpur-5, Shahbazpur-7, Bhola North-3 and Bhola North-4—along with one exploration well named Shahbazpur North East-1.

The wells will be drilled under an international tender through a one-stage, two-envelope procurement method on a turn-key basis. The total estimated cost of the proposal stands at Taka 907.29 crore.

Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration & Production Corporation, China, was recommended as the responsive bidder.

The Bapex official said that initial deal was done with the Chinese company, while physical work is expected to begin in July as land acquisition and site development is another major segment of the project.

Officials said that the newly elected democratic government will contribute more to increasing domestic gas production, reducing dependence on imported fuel and strengthening national energy security.