Dhaka: Chairman of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Jalal Ahmed expressed optimism that the country would not face a shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) during the upcoming Ramadan, citing an expected increase in imports.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Jalal Ahmed stated at a roundtable discussion titled ‘Challenges of Regulating the LPG Market’, organised by the LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB) at the CIRDAP auditorium, that around 150,000 tonnes of LPG are expected to arrive in January. He urged LPG operators to take proactive steps to prevent supply issues during the fasting month.
Jalal Ahmed mentioned that BERC has asked businesses to submit three-month projections for January, February, and March. If January’s imports are ensured and February deliveries are confirmed, the country may avoid an LPG shortage during Ramadan.
LOAB President Mohammed Amirul Haque attributed the ongoing LPG crisis, persisting for more than 15 days, to the government’s lack of response to requests for increasing import limits. He stated that LOAB had applied for higher import quotas for five companies-IGas, Meghna Group, Delta, Omera, and Jamuna-but received no response. He also claimed that LOAB members were not selling LPG at inflated prices.
The BERC chairman rejected this claim, noting that import limits were not a constraint, as several companies had already exceeded their approved ceilings. He identified shipment disruptions as the main reason behind the supply crunch, citing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly surrounding Iran, as factors negatively affecting LPG supply and the domestic market.
Jalal added that increased LPG purchases by China had pushed up international prices, while supply chains were further disrupted after many vessels were blacklisted in November and December. He explained that large buyers like China have increased purchases, leaving smaller buyers like Bangladesh with fewer options.
At present, a 12-kg LPG cylinder, officially priced at Tk 1,306, is being sold in the market for Tk 2,500 to Tk 2,800, with many consumers unable to obtain gas even after making advance payments. CAB President AHM Shafiquzzaman demanded an investigation to determine where the extra money was going if operators were indeed not charging higher prices.
Energy and Mineral Resources Division’s Joint Secretary AKM Fazlul Hoque noted that around six million households in Bangladesh currently use LPG, making it an essential commodity. He mentioned that the government is in the process of updating the LPG policy to include guidelines aimed at addressing existing challenges in the sector.