In a statement issued on Tuesday (3 November), the state-owned corporation clarified that the claims were misleading and had no factual basis. It said gas supplies would continue, although consumers in some areas could experience temporarily reduced pressure due to maintenance work at one of the country’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals.
According to Petrobangla, certain groups have been deliberately spreading misinformation by creating and circulating fabricated news cards using the names and identities of different media outlets. These posts claim that gas supplies will be completely halted nationwide for the next four days, prompting unnecessary concern among consumers.
The corporation said the matter had come to its attention and sought to clarify the actual situation to prevent public confusion.
Petrobangla explained that emergency maintenance work is under way at the Summit LNG Terminal, one of two LNG terminals located in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar. As a result, the terminal’s regasification operations will remain suspended for four days.
Regasification is the process through which imported LNG, transported and stored in liquid form at very low temperatures, is converted back into natural gas before being supplied to the national distribution network. The process is essential for delivering imported LNG to households, industries and other consumers through the country’s gas infrastructure.
The temporary suspension of operations at the Summit terminal is expected to reduce the volume of gas entering the national grid. Petrobangla said the country’s daily gas supply, which currently stands at around 2,570 million cubic feet, could fall to approximately 2,250 million cubic feet during the maintenance period.
This represents a potential reduction of around 320 million cubic feet of gas per day over the four days.
The reduction could affect gas pressure in different parts of the country, particularly in areas where supplies are already limited. Household consumers may experience weaker gas pressure for cooking, while industries and other gas-dependent businesses could also face temporary supply constraints.
However, Petrobangla stressed that the maintenance work would not result in a complete nationwide shutdown. Gas distribution would continue, although the available volume would be lower than usual. The other LNG terminal at Maheshkhali is expected to remain part of the country’s gas supply system during this period.
Bangladesh relies on a combination of domestic natural gas production and imported LNG to meet its energy requirements. LNG terminals play a significant role in supplementing domestic production and maintaining supplies to the national grid. Any temporary disruption at these facilities can therefore affect the overall availability of gas.
Against this backdrop, Petrobangla has asked people to remain cautious about unverified information shared on social media. It has urged consumers to rely on official announcements and credible news organisations rather than fabricated posts or misleading graphics.
The corporation reiterated that the reports of a complete four-day nationwide gas shutdown were false. The actual situation involves a temporary reduction in supply caused by emergency maintenance at one LNG terminal, which may lead to lower gas pressure in some areas.
