Bangladesh's Onshore Terminal to be Ready by 2024-2025: Report

Bangladesh is in talks with Indian and Chinese firms to build its first ever onshore LNG terminal at Maheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar by 2024-2025, according to local media reports.  

“Bangladesh is discussing the proposed construction with Petronet India Limited and China Huanqiu Contracting and Engineering Corporation (HQC), a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation,” Dhaka Tribune quoted Zanendra Nath Sarker, joint secretary of the energy and mineral resources division, saying June 20. He said the contract will be awarded to either of the two. India’s Petronet and Bangladeshi state owned Petrobangla have already signed a memorandum of understanding to set up LNG import infrastructure in Bangladesh.

This will be Bangladesh’s first onshore terminal. At present the country has one operational offshore terminal while another one is under construction. Bangladesh received its first LNG cargo in April this year from Qatar aboard the Excellence floating, storage and regasification unit (FSRU) at the port of Moheshkha. The project was co-developed by Petrobangla, US specialist shipowner Excelerate Energy and IFC, a member of the World Bank group, with a project cost of $180mn. 

With local demand for gas rising, the Bangladesh government is working to improve the supply of LNG by building import infrastructure. Apart from importing LNG, the government is also interested in importing gas from Myanmar via pipeline and has sought India's assistance.