Study of gas supply to the western zone of Bangladesh

Abstract

Economic development of the energy starv~d Western Region of Bangladesh remained seriously impeded for a long time due to non-availabiliry of natural gas and uncertain po" er 'upply siruation. The long cherished dream of Banglade,h for linking the We.'lern and Eastern Part of the country was largely fulfilled with the succes~rul conWllction of JamLLllUMultipurpose Hridge. The hi.'loric achievement opened avenue and afforded opportunity for transportation of natural gas and power to the energy h,mgry Western Region alongside the dramatic development of road and railway COlllm un Icatioll. The gAS transmi.,_,ionnetwork across .IanlUnaRiver was subsequently wmmissioned in 1999. Systematic ""pan,ion of g~s nelwork in the We,tern Region would contribute signifiean!ly tbe economic development through rapid industrla!ization and it ",ill ereatc employment opportunilie, Additionally it 'Wouldsave loreign exehangc due to cquivalenl reduction of impOltof liquid hydrocarbon, This study identifies and analy,e, 'arious option, for expansion of gas transmission faCilities al lhe major load centre (present and probable) for ensuring smooth and reliable gas supply .,ecurity tor the Western Region. A commercial software is used for netlvork design and to idcnlify the Iimitation,. Thc ni.,ting sourcc of ga, supply, thcir capac ity, future production augmentation and side-by-,ide the transmi"ion network arc ,cruti"i7e</ to identif} lhe options for gas supply 10 the Western Rcgion. It "as obscf'cd lhat three oplio", were identified 10 optimi7e gas supply to tile Weslcrn Zone,