Bangladesh's fuel supply is expected to remain stable despite global energy market disruptions, as the government has moved quickly to secure alternative fuel sources and increase imports, energy experts and officials say.
Officials from the energy ministry said the government has instructed Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation to urgently arrange fuel shipments from alternative markets while also exploring purchases from the international spot market to manage any temporary supply disruptions.
“If fuel sources are managed efficiently, the situation will not worsen,” an energy ministry official said, noting that electricity demand is also expected to fall during the upcoming Eid holidays when many factories temporarily reduce operations.
The government has already diversified its fuel supply routes. Bangladesh is importing refined petroleum products from Singapore, China, Malaysia and Indonesia, while discussions are ongoing to expand sourcing from other international markets.
Energy analysts say Bangladesh can also rely more heavily on coal-based power generation during the current period of uncertainty, reducing the immediate need for additional liquefied natural gas imports.
According to Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources Corporation (Petrobangla), the country plans to import 115 LNG cargoes this year to support electricity generation and industrial energy demand. Of these shipments, 40 cargoes will arrive from Qatar and 16 from Oman under long-term supply contracts.
An additional 59 LNG cargoes are expected to be purchased from the international spot market, allowing authorities to adjust imports depending on global energy conditions. Qatar remains one of the largest LNG suppliers to Bangladesh.
Officials say the current fuel supply situation in Bangladesh remains stable. AKM Azadur Rahman, director at Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, said the country has sufficient fuel oil reserves for the short term.
“Fuel supply and demand are currently normal, and we have fuel oil in stock. Even with disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, we do not expect immediate problems for refined petroleum imports,” he said earlier.
Government sources said Bangladesh imports around 65 to 70 per cent of its total energy needs, with a significant portion traditionally sourced from Middle Eastern suppliers.
Fuel reserves in the country typically cover two weeks to one month of demand, while authorities are actively seeking additional liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) suppliers to further strengthen energy security.
Bangladesh’s power generation capacity also includes several major coal-fired plants that can support electricity supply during fuel market volatility. These include the Payra Thermal Power Plant (1,320 MW), Rampal Power Station (1,320 MW), Matarbari Power Station (1,200 MW), SS Power I Banshkhali (1,224 MW), Barapukuria Coal Power Plant (250 MW) and Barishal Power Plant (307 MW).
Petrobangla officials said nine LNG cargoes are scheduled to arrive this month, including six from Qatar. Four of those shipments have already passed through the Strait of Hormuz, reducing concerns over potential disruptions to Bangladesh’s near-term energy supply.
Energy experts say continued diversification of fuel imports and flexible procurement strategies will be essential to maintaining Bangladesh’s energy security as geopolitical tensions continue to affect global energy markets.
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