Sangsad Bhaban, April 23 (V7N) — Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood today announced that natural gas will be supplied to the Ashuganj Fertilizer Factory from May 1 to support the agriculture sector, even though the move will affect power generation.  

“We have decided to supply gas to the fertilizer factory from May 1 considering the agriculture sector although the decision will hamper the power generation,” the minister told parliament while responding to a proposal from independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana (Brahmanbaria-2) seeking household gas connectivity in her constituency.  

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir-Bikram, chaired the session. 

Mahmood said the country has faced gas shortages since 2016, leading to reduced pressure in household and industrial lines. “Due to this situation, we are supplying as much gas to the industries only for production purpose,” he added.  

He blamed the immediate past government for failing to carry out gas exploration, noting that the present administration has strengthened BAPEX to resume exploration activities. “If we are successful in gas exploring then we will be able to resume household gas connectivity and even increase the gas pressure in the line,” he said. 

Acknowledging the minister’s remarks, Rumeen Farhana said the previous government did not take any initiative to explore energy over the last fifteen years. She informed the House that deep gas well drilling began on April 19, which is expected to add 15 million cubic feet of gas daily to the national grid once completed in about seven months.  

She urged the government to restore gas supply to Ashuganj Fertilizer Factory to resume production, which has remained suspended due to shortages.  

END/AJ/RH