A new international study has raised concerns about Bangladesh’s increasing dependence on liquefied natural gas (LNG), warning that the country could face greater economic uncertainty and environmental challenges if reliance on imported fossil fuel continues to grow.
The analysis, released on Tuesday by the London-based research organisation Zero Carbon Analytics (ZCA), examined LNG trade flows involving Japan and several Asian economies. According to the report, Bangladesh is among nine countries receiving significant volumes of US-produced LNG that have been resold through Japan over the past five years.
Researchers found that between 2020 and 2025, approximately 16.5 billion kilograms of US LNG were re-exported by Japan to Asian markets, including Bangladesh. When emissions from extraction, processing, transportation, regasification and final consumption are combined, the fuel generated an estimated 63.5 billion kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. The study noted that this environmental impact is comparable to the annual emissions of roughly 17 coal-fired power plants.
The report comes as Bangladesh continues to increase LNG imports to meet growing electricity demand and strengthen energy cooperation with Japan. However, analysts argue that greater investment in LNG infrastructure could expose the country to volatile international fuel prices and long-term financial obligations.
Speaking on the issue, Research Director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Khondaker Golam Moazzem said Japan has become a major player in Bangladesh’s LNG sector through fuel supply arrangements, infrastructure financing and broader economic partnerships. He cautioned that future cooperation could result in even greater dependence on imported gas and associated debt burdens.
The study also highlighted methane emissions as a major concern. LNG is largely composed of methane, a greenhouse gas that has a much stronger warming effect than carbon dioxide over the short term. Researchers estimated that methane leakage accounts for around 30 per cent of total lifecycle emissions associated with LNG.
According to the report, Japan has increasingly emerged as a global LNG trading hub, reselling more US LNG than it consumes domestically since 2021. Experts warn that this trend may reinforce fossil-fuel dependence across Asia at a time when countries are seeking cleaner energy alternatives.
Researchers from Zero Carbon Analytics and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis argued that expanding renewable energy could provide a more secure and sustainable pathway for countries such as Bangladesh. The report concludes that while LNG may support short-term energy needs, excessive dependence on imported gas could complicate efforts to improve energy security, reduce emissions and strengthen long-term economic resilience.
