Bangladesh has approved the procurement of four cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to sustain the country’s power generation and heavy manufacturing sectors amid persistent domestic energy shortages. The decision was finalised during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase held at the Secretariat on Wednesday, with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presiding over the session. An official notification issued by the Ministry of Finance confirmed the approval of the procurement proposals following a rigorous evaluation process.
The international energy market suppliers contracted to deliver the shipments include Aramco Trading Singapore, BP Singapore, and Vitol Asia. Pricing across the four consignments varies notably based on market fluctuations and cargo specifications. Aramco Trading Singapore will supply two separate shipments, with one priced at $27.54 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) and the other at $23.98 per MMBtu. Meanwhile, BP Singapore has secured a contract for a cargo priced at $28.03 per MMBtu, marking the highest rate among the approved purchases. Vitol Asia will provide the final cargo at a rate of $26.66 per MMBtu. According to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, these imports are being executed through international competitive bidding procedures in strict compliance with public procurement regulations.
The domestic industrial landscape has faced severe disruptions due to inadequate gas supplies through pipeline networks. Factories across major industrial belts have been forced to operate below full capacity because of low line pressure, directly impacting national manufacturing outputs and electricity generation. While the government continues to rely heavily on imported LNG to bridge the deficit, global market volatility driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East has exacerbated the challenge. These ongoing conflicts have not only driven procurement costs upward but have also complicated the logistics of securing timely delivery slots in a fiercely competitive global market, forcing authorities to navigate steep financial commitments to keep industrial operations afloat.
