Gas shortage leaves CNG stations gridlocked

Drivers wait hours for fuel as reduced gas supply disrupts transport across the capital

Bangladesh's transport sector is facing fresh disruption as a worsening gas shortage triggers long queues at CNG filling stations across Dhaka.

Drivers are spending hours waiting to refuel as most filling stations either run out of gas or operate at very low pressure, making it impossible to fill vehicle cylinders properly.

The shortage has also reduced the number of CNG-powered auto-rickshaws on the roads, pushing up fares across the capital.

The latest disruption comes just months after motorists nationwide struggled with fuel shortages following the Iran conflict.

From February, long queues formed outside filling stations as motorists struggled to buy petrol and diesel.

The government later increased fuel supplies and introduced fuel passes and an app-based system to stabilise distribution, while allegations also emerged of artificial shortages created in anticipation of higher prices.

Although that crisis eased after fuel prices were raised, the focus has now shifted to a shortage of natural gas.

Ashraf Ali, a ride-sharing driver from Gabtoli, said he had spent three days trying to secure enough gas to continue working.

"There are many filling stations around Gabtoli, but most are closed. I drove to Demra after taking a trip and found a huge queue. Before long, the station stopped supplying gas, so I had to head home with an almost empty tank," he told bdnews24.com.

Ashraf said his vehicle normally takes around Tk 1,100 worth of gas, but low pressure means stations are unable to fill even half the cylinder. In some cases, drivers wait three hours and still fail to refuel.

At the Hafiza CNG Station in Kallyanpur, employee Md Firoz said compressors were running throughout the day but pressure remained too low because "there is simply no gas in the line".

Compressed natural gas requires pressure of between 2,900 and 3,600 PSI to fill vehicle cylinders, but station operators say the supply pressure is far below normal.

The government has attributed the crisis to a technical fault at the floating LNG terminal in Cox's Bazar’s Moheshkhali, which has reduced gas supply to the national grid by about 450 million cubic feet per day.

Demand in the Titas Gas distribution area is about 2 billion cubic feet daily, while supply has fallen to around 1.55 billion cubic feet, leaving filling stations without adequate pressure.

Farhan Noor, secretary general of the Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association, said stations are receiving only 3 to 5 PSI instead of the required 15 PSI.

"When supply pressure falls, compressor output also drops. Until the Moheshkhali problem is resolved, the pressure will not improve and neither will the shortage," he said.

Farhan also rejected suggestions that the fuel shortage was linked to the association's planned strike on Jul 30.

"Some people think there is no gas because of our protest programme. That is not true. The strike is scheduled for Jul 30 if our demands are not met. The current disruption is entirely due to the lack of gas in the pipeline," he said.