State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit said on Saturday that the newly developed Srikail-5 well in Cumilla will be able to supply an average of around 8 million cubic feet of gas per day to the national grid.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony for the supply of gas from BAPEX’s Srikail-5 appraisal and development well at Srikail in Cumilla’s Muradnagar Upazila, Amit said the field is expected to produce substantial gas over the next 10 years, with a current market value estimated at Tk6,832 crore.
“If this gas had to be imported, it would have put serious pressure on the country’s foreign currency reserves,” he said.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Md Arfanul Hoque, with Mohammad Saiful Islam attending as special guest. Senior officials of BAPEX and Petrobangla, local dignitaries, and media representatives were also present at that time.
Anindya Islam Amit stressed that transparency and accountability would be maintained in all energy sector activities to ensure citizens can track how domestic resources are extracted and utilised.
He noted that the global energy market remains unstable, particularly due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, and added that the addition of gas from a domestic field is “very encouraging” for Bangladesh.
He praised the skilled engineers and officials of BAPEX for their efforts in making gas extraction from Srikail-5 possible and expressed confidence that their expertise will continue to expand the country’s gas supply.
According to the minister, the government aims to gradually increase gas supply to the national grid, targeting a total addition of 82 million cubic feet per day in the near future.
He described the plan as part of a realistic, actionable programme rather than a mere proposal.
Amit also highlighted the government’s strategy to reduce dependence on imported energy and achieve self-reliance in the sector by fully utilising domestic resources.
He projected that Bangladesh’s gas demand could reach 4,500 million cubic feet per day within the next five years, with a significant portion to be met through domestic production.
The state minister expressed hope that through coordinated efforts by BAPEX, Petrobangla, and the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, the country will achieve significant energy self-sufficiency within five years.
