Bangladesh to Buy 6 More Spot LNG Cargoes for October Delivery

🛢 Dhaka, Bangladesh — The Bangladesh government has moved to purchase six more spot LNG cargoes for delivery over October windows as its contracted suppliers have ceased LNG deliveries due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

📊 State-run Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Ltd (RPGCL) has floated tenders to purchase these LNG cargoes for delivery over:

• 📅 October 8-9
• 📅 October 11-12
• 📅 October 15-16
• 📅 October 24-25
• 📅 October 27-28
• 📅 October 30-31

📋 The bid submission deadline is 10:40 am local time on September 9.

📊 Highest Spot LNG Tender Notice

📊 With these tenders, Bangladesh has sought to purchase the highest number of spot LNG cargoes through a single notice, he said.

📊 The cargoes are to be delivered to Moheshkhali Island, with an option to discharge at either of the country’s two FSRUs located on the island, as both the FSRUs are currently operational. The volume of each spot LNG cargo is about 3.36 million British thermal units (MMBTus).

📊 Two More Spot LNG Cargoes Already Bought for Early October

📊 Bangladesh already purchased two spot LNG cargoes for delivery in early October. Combined with the new tender for 6 additional cargoes, Bangladesh is securing a total of 8 spot LNG cargoes for October 2026 — a significant volume that underscores the country’s growing reliance on the spot market as long-term contracts falter.

🏛 RPGCL: Petrobangla Subsidiary

📊 RPGCL is part of state-owned Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation, also known as Petrobangla, and is responsible for LNG trading in Bangladesh.

🛢 Bangladesh Gas Supply Position

📊 Bangladesh is currently struggling to meet its gas demand amid elevated LNG prices, and as contracted long-term LNG suppliers continue to restrict scheduled cargo deliveries, the RPGCL official said.

📊 Bangladesh’s gas supply and demand situation as of September 6, 2026:

• 📊 Overall natural gas supply: ~2,333 mmcfd
• 📊 Of which regasified LNG: 703 mmcfd
• 📊 Bangladesh’s natural gas demand: ~4,000 mmcfd
• 📊 Supply deficit: ~1,667 mmcfd (42% short)

⚠ State-run Petrobangla has been rationing gas supplies to industries, power plants and other consumers to cope with a supply shortage of natural gas.

💰 Spot LNG Prices: $28+ per MMBtu

📊 As previously reported, Bangladesh is being compelled to buy LNG at over US$ 28 per MMBtu to supply natural gas to industries, power plants, households and other gas-guzzling consumers. If Qatar would supply LNG under contracted terms, the price would have been less than half of spot market rates, even amid the current high price of energy on the international market with Brent crude hovering around US$ 96 per barrel.

🌏 Strategic Context: Bangladesh LNG Import Crisis

📊 For Bangladesh’s energy security, the October spot LNG tenders represent an urgent response to a worsening crisis:

• 🛢 Strait of Hormuz disruptions — US-Iran conflict blocking contracted LNG shipments
• 💰 Spot market dependence — 60% of LNG imports from Qatar now disrupted
• 💲 Cost burden — $28+/MMBtu vs ~$14/MMBtu contracted prices
• 📊 Supply rationing — industrial and power sector rationing affecting production
• 🚢 FSRU vulnerability — both FSRUs operational but dependent on cargo availability
• 📈 October gas demand — winter heating season approaching globally, prices may rise

💰 Cost Implications for Bangladesh

📊 For Bangladesh’s economy, the cost of 8 spot LNG cargoes in October is significant:

• 💰 8 cargoes x 3.36 MMBTus each = ~26.88 MMBTus total volume
• 💰 At $28/MMBtu spot price = ~$752 million total cost
• 💰 Compared to contracted Qatar price (~$14/MMBtu) = ~$376 million additional cost
• 💰 Foreign exchange impact — additional $376M drain on reserves
• 💰 Power sector subsidy — government absorbing cost differential

📋 Implications for Industries

📊 For Bangladesh’s industrial sector, particularly the gas-intensive industries, the LNG crisis has severe implications:

• 🏭 Ceramics industry — 5 lakh jobs at risk as factories operate at 35% capacity
• 🧵 Textile mills — 660 mills facing gas shortage, production down
• 🏛 Steel re-rolling — production affected by gas rationing
• 🌾 Fertiliser factories — gas supply critical for upcoming Aman season
• 🔌 Power plants — gas-based generation curtailed
• 🍡 RMG factories — indirect impact through supply chain disruptions

🤝 Outlook: Qatar Delegation Visit on September 9

📊 As reported earlier, a delegation from QatarEnergy is expected to visit Bangladesh on 9 September 2026 to discuss resumption of contracted LNG supply. If the discussions yield positive results, Bangladesh may be able to reduce its spot market dependence — easing both the cost burden on foreign exchange reserves and the gas supply rationing affecting industries.

📊 However, until contracted LNG supplies resume, Bangladesh will need to continue purchasing expensive spot cargoes to maintain industrial operations and power generation. The October tender for 6 additional spot cargoes signals that the government expects the LNG crisis to persist at least through the next month — with significant cost and economic implications.

✅ For Bangladesh’s broader energy security strategy, the October spot LNG tenders underscore the urgent need for:

• 🛢 Diversified LNG supply sources — reduce dependence on Qatar/Hormuz route
• 🚢 Domestic gas exploration — accelerate offshore exploration
• 🔌 Renewable energy — reduce gas dependence for power generation
• 🛢 Strategic gas reserves — build storage capacity for crisis periods
• 🤝 Long-term contracts — diversify with US, Australia, Africa suppliers
• 💰 Cost-sharing mechanism — distribute spot market premium across consumers

🌏 For Bangladesh’s industrial community, the October spot LNG tenders offer some reassurance that gas supply will be maintained — albeit at significantly higher costs. As the country navigates the worst energy crisis in recent memory, the coming weeks will be critical for both the Qatar delegation discussions and the broader energy security outlook for the remainder of FY2026-27.