Chattogram’s gas crisis has intensified, with the Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited saying the region is receiving 54.29 percent of demand, leaving a 45.71 percent shortfall. In a report published on August 13, the company said it was receiving 190 million cubic feet of gas daily against an allocation of 246 million cubic feet from the national grid. The shortage has disrupted household cooking, CNG stations and gas-based power generation, while load-shedding has increased.

Gas-sector sources said Chattogram depends on floating LNG terminals at Maheshkhali for supply. The crisis began after a fire incident at Exelerate Energy’s terminal on July 21. One boiler was partially restarted on August 6 after nearly two weeks of closure, but repairs to damaged electrical control and instrument systems, as well as replacement of required parts, are continuing.

The report said output at rod, garment, shipbreaking and steel-structure factories has fallen to 40 percent. Several 210-megawatt power-generation units, including at Raozan and Anwara, are shut. BSRM said its factory had been fully closed since Wednesday and it had not received gas at the desired rate for 20 days. Long queues were reported at CNG stations, some of which suspend service when gas pressure falls.