Bangladesh Gas Supply Improves Further: LNG Regasification Jumps to 733 mmcfd as BP Cargo Arrives

Dhaka, August 8, 2026 — Natural gas supplies across Bangladesh improved further on Saturday as LNG regasification from the damaged Excelerate Energy FSRU ramped up to approximately 250 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) — boosting total LNG regasification to 733 mmcfd from the previous day's 515 mmcfd, and pushing the country's overall natural gas supply to 2,367 mmcfd.

🛢️ The Recovery Timeline

The improvement follows the delivery of a new LNG cargo from BP Singapore Pte Ltd to the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) on Friday night (August 7). The cargo replenished the FSRU's LNG inventory, enabling the facility to increase its regasification output from the single operational boiler that was repaired and brought back online on August 6.

Md Shoeb, Petrobangla's director for operations and mines, and PSC, confirmed the figures to The Financial Express on Saturday. He said the damaged FSRU resumed operation from the early hours of August 6 with one of its two boilers operational, and that it might resume full-scale operation within one week — a timeline that aligns with the earlier projection that the second boiler could be ready for testing by August 10.

📊 The Numbers: A Significant Improvement

The jump from 515 mmcfd to 733 mmcfd in total LNG regasification represents a 42 percent increase in a single day — the most significant day-over-day improvement since the FSRU fire on July 21 forced a two-week shutdown of the Excelerate Energy terminal. The breakdown of Saturday's supply picture:

• 📈 Total LNG regasification: 733 mmcfd (up from 515 mmcfd)
• 📈 Excelerate FSRU output: ~250 mmcfd (one boiler operational)
• 📈 Summit terminal output: ~483 mmcfd (near full capacity)
• 📈 Total natural gas supply: 2,367 mmcfd
• 📉 Daily gas demand: ~3,800 mmcfd
• 📉 Structural shortfall: ~1,433 mmcfd (37.7% of demand unmet)

While the improvement is significant, the structural gap between supply (2,367 mmcfd) and demand (3,800 mmcfd) remains substantial at approximately 1,433 mmcfd — meaning that more than a third of Bangladesh's daily gas demand is still unmet. Industries, power plants, and household consumers are now receiving gas with higher pressure compared to the crisis period of the past two weeks, but the situation is still far from normal.

👥 Impact on Industries and Power Plants

Industries, power plants, and household consumers have now started receiving more gas with higher pressure compared to the crisis period in the past two weeks. For the ready-made garment sector — which had seen more than 20 percent of factories declare a three-day break and 17-18 percent of Gazipur factories shut down entirely — the improved gas supply provides some relief, though many factories are still operating below full capacity.

For the power sector, the improved gas supply means that gas-fired power plants can increase generation, reducing the load-shedding that had reached 3,000-3,500 MW at peak during the worst of the crisis. Gas-fired plants had been receiving only about 680 mmcfd during the crisis (down from 950 mmcfd pre-accident) — the additional LNG regasification should allow this to increase, though the exact allocation between power, industry, and household consumers is determined by Petrobangla and GTCL based on priority.

💰 BP Singapore Cargo and Affected Deliveries

The BP Singapore cargo that arrived Friday night is a critical resupply for the FSRU, which had been running on its remaining inventory since the partial resumption on August 6. The abrupt closure of the FSRU on July 21 had affected the delivery of two LNG cargoes carried by Gunvor Singapore Pte Ltd and TotalEnergies Gas & Power Ltd — both of which were unable to discharge their cargoes while the terminal was non-operational. The resumption of FSRU operations means these delayed cargoes can now be scheduled for delivery, further improving the supply outlook.

🔧 The Second Boiler: What Full Operation Means

The FSRU currently operates with one of its two boilers, each with a capacity of 300 mmcfd. When the second boiler is repaired and tested (expected by August 10), the FSRU will need to temporarily shut down the operational boiler for 12 hours during commissioning — causing a brief supply interruption before resuming at full 600 mmcfd capacity. Once both boilers are operational:

• 📈 Excelerate FSRU full capacity: 600 mmcfd (up from current ~250 mmcfd)
• 📈 Total LNG regasification (estimated): ~1,083 mmcfd (Excelerate 600 + Summit 483)
• 📈 Estimated total gas supply: ~2,700+ mmcfd (approaching pre-crisis levels)
• 📉 Remaining gap (even at full FSRU): ~1,100 mmcfd (structural deficit)

🌏 Broader Context: The Government's Multi-Pronged Energy Strategy

The gas supply improvement comes as the government pursues multiple complementary initiatives to address the energy crisis. On August 6, the cabinet committee approved the direct purchase of eight LNG cargoes from four international suppliers (Blackcube, Global Fuel, Plentitude, and Vitol). On August 7, the government restored the payment guarantee mechanism for renewable energy projects. On August 8, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced plans for domestic gas exploration, marine resource extraction, and blue economy development — alongside a 100,000-tonne fuel stockpile at Matarbari and two additional FSRUs.

Together, these initiatives represent a comprehensive energy security framework: short-term (emergency LNG cargoes + FSRU repair), medium-term (Matarbari fuel stockpile + new FSRUs + payment guarantee for renewables), and long-term (domestic gas exploration + blue economy + energy diversification). The FSRU recovery, while welcome, is just one piece of a much larger puzzle.

✅ What to Watch

The next milestone is the second boiler repair, expected by August 10. If the 12-hour shutdown for commissioning proceeds smoothly and the FSRU returns to full 600 mmcfd capacity, total gas supply should approach 2,700 mmcfd — the pre-crisis baseline. However, even at full capacity, the structural gap of approximately 1,100 mmcfd will persist, requiring continued reliance on emergency LNG spot purchases and the eight directly procured cargoes approved on August 6. For Bangladesh's export economy — particularly the RMG, textile, and plastic sectors that depend on reliable gas supply — the improving situation provides cautious optimism that the worst of the crisis may be passing, even as the structural challenges remain.