The power and energy ministry on Monday decided to divert 58 million cubic feet of natural gas a day from three power stations to the RMG factories in Gazipur.
The decision came from a meeting with state minister for power and energy Nasrul Hamid in chair after the owners of readymade garment factories on Sunday threatened that they would shut down 245 factories in Gazipur if the authorities concerned fail to ensure adequate gas supply.
Energy division secretary Md Eunusur Rahman, power division secretary Monwar Islam and other power and energy sector officials attended the meeting.
The meeting decided to reduce supply of 20 mmcfd gas to 71MW plant at Baghabari station, reduce the supply by 26 mmcfd to 145MW power plant of Aggreko in Ghorashal station and reduce 12 mmcfd to Chandpur power station, Petrobangla chairman Hossain Monsur told New Age.
He said that the fertiliser factories will get gas as per their requirement to maintain their production to fulfil the government’s plan.
Monsur also said that the authorities would divert more gas to the industrial zones from other sectors on a priority basis.
He, however, refrained from giving comment when asked how Petrobangla would improve the gas supply situation in the domestic kitchens.
The power generation may decline by around 150MW because of gas diversion, officials said.
On Sunday, the garment owners alleged that production in 245 factories in Gazipur area had been interrupted for 15 to 16 hours a day due to low pressure of the supplied gas.
The interruption in production has already made many upcoming shipments of readymade garments uncertain in due time, they said.
Supply of natural gas to households, industries and power stations dropped significantly over the last couple of weeks as Petrobangla began supplying gas to fertiliser factories after a six-month break.
Three new gas-fired power plants have also started drawing gas, creating further pressure on the gas supply network.
Except Sylhet and its adjacent districts, kitchen stoves burned on low flames and turbines at 1,053MW capacity power plants stopped rotating while industrial production was hampered due to the shortage of gas.
The authorities started supplying about 160 mmcfd gas, after a six-month moratorium, and will increase it to about 250 mmcfd, to help meet the annual fertiliser production target set by the government, officials said.
Petrobangla now supplies about 2,350 million cubic feet of natural gas a day, against a demand for over 3,000 mmcfd.
The shortage of gas supply triggered a row among the state-run agencies in power and energy sector over setting priorities in gas supply.
-With New Age input
