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Bangladesh Eyes US LNG Amid Qatar Supply Concerns, Industry Leader Says

An industry leader says Bangladesh could turn to US companies for liquefied natural gas if supply from Qatar is unavailable, citing an existing agreement. Farhan Noor attributed recent public panic and fuel sector instability partly to an "irresponsible statement" from a petroleum official that was amplified by media. He clarified that Bangladesh produces 80% of its petrol and octane domestically and does not face a major shortage in urban fuel supplies. Noor expressed confidence the situation would normalize within days, despite the government's rationing announcement exacerbating concerns.

Key Points: Bangladesh May Turn to US Companies for LNG Supply

  • US firms as alternative LNG source
  • Public panic over fuel crisis
  • Domestic production covers 80% of petrol/octane
  • Unstable situation fueled by statements
2 min read

Bangladesh may turn to US companies for LNG amid fuel concerns: Industry leader

Bangladesh could procure LNG from US firms as an alternative to Qatar amid fuel sector volatility and public panic, an industry leader states.

"Bangladesh imports LNG from Qatar, but if not from Qatar, I believe we have an agreement with the United States. - Farhan Noor"

Dhaka, March 8

During the ongoing fuel concerns in Bangladesh, if liquefied natural gas supply from Qatar is not available, the country can procure fuel from companies in the United States as an alternative because Bangladesh has a fuel supply agreement with the US, a fuel business leader said on Sunday.

"Bangladesh imports LNG from Qatar, but if not from Qatar, I believe we have an agreement with the United States. Therefore, even at a higher price, the US companies might carry out the supply," Farhan Noor, Secretary General of the Bangladesh CNG Filling Station & Conversion Workshop Owners Association, told ANI in an interview.

Noor admitted that volatility in the fuel sector created panic among the general public. "When there was a fuel crisis, panic arose among the people. It created an unstable environment in the fuel sector," he added.

Speaking about petrol and octane, which are used in motor vehicles and motorcycles, Noor stated that, "We produce 80 per cent of petrol and octane in Bangladesh; we produce it ourselves."

"In fact, we do not have a major crisis here, but because a responsible person gave an irresponsible statement, especially the chairman of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), and the media spread it, panic has arisen here," he said.

Noor said that people started buying more fuel than they actually needed, which created an unstable situation in the fuel sector. "Because of this panic, many people started buying much more fuel or petrol than they actually need," Noor said. "Because of this, it created an unstable situation in the fuel sector, which was actually unnecessary for some people," he added.

"Everyone rushed to the stations at once, which is why the government announced rationing. However, even because of this announcement, the panic increased," he said.

"In reality, the fuel that we use in urban areas, we do not have a shortage of it. I think within the next two or three days the situation will return to normal," Noor said.

"We import diesel from abroad into Bangladesh," he added.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Interesting read. The panic buying part is so relatable – we saw similar scenes in India during past fuel price hikes. It's a vicious cycle: one statement creates fear, people hoard, and then real shortages appear. Governments need to communicate more responsibly.
R
Rohit P
As a neighbour, stability in Bangladesh is good for the entire region, including our North-Eastern states. Hope they resolve their fuel issues quickly. The mention of US companies stepping in shows how geopolitics is tied to energy security now.
P
Priya S
The industry leader makes a valid point about irresponsible statements causing panic. We've seen this happen here too with onions, tomatoes, and fuel. Media needs to verify before amplifying such claims. Public overreaction makes a small problem into a big crisis. 🙏
A
Aman W
While diversification is smart, buying from the US "even at a higher price" will hurt the common people of Bangladesh. Fuel prices have a direct impact on inflation for essentials. Hope they find a cost-effective solution.
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Nikhil C
Good that they produce 80% of their petrol and octane domestically. That's a lesson for self-reliance. The diesel import dependency is the real issue, similar to India. The focus should be on renewables and electric vehicles in the long run for all of South Asia.

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