Future Prospect Analysis of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in Bangladesh: Economic and Technological Case Studies

摘要

Bangladesh is one of the densely populated countries in the world. The energy consumer is increasing gradually in the country. The key energy source in the country is natural gas but the supply is less than the demand. The annual gas consumption is about 1 Tcf per year and it is expected that the gas demand will be approximately 58.2 Tcf at the end of 2050. The country is facing gas crisis right now. The pipeline supply is not accessible in all of the part of the country. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) can be a solution for this problem. The LPG demand is increasing sharply because of its very clean burning, cost effectiveness, easy transportation facilities. Currently, the LPG demand in Bangladesh is almost 100,000 mt per year. Kailashtila, Sylhet and Chittagong LPG plants are supplying roughly 15-20 percent of the current demand and private players import the remaining 80 percent. The price of LPG has dropped by more than 50 percent in the international market although the price does not match in Bangladesh with the world market yet. On the other hand, the price of natural gas in the country has increased by 26.29 percent on an average, with a hike of 50 percent for domestic users. LNG can be imported to decrease the pipe line gas crisis. Bangladesh is proceeding with a plan for setting up 3.5 million tons per year LNG import facility at Matarbari in Maheshkhali Island to Chittagong city. It requires 600 times less space than natural gas and neither corrosive nor toxic for LNG. It is estimated that about 4 million ton of LNG would be required annually in the country. The government of Bangladesh should be more positive to introduce LPG and LNG for developing all the part of the country.