Bhola correspondent

Ninteen gas wells will be drilled in Bhola within the next four years, said Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, Advisor on Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.

He said this while visiting Elisha-1 gas field in Bhola on Friday.

He said that 5 wells will be drilled in Bhola by 2025 and 14 more between 2026 and 2028. All will be through open competition and work permission will give to whoever we get a good offer from.

In response to a query from reporters he said, commercial gas is running in Bhola. The issue of gas connection to housed will be decided next. If someone pays for gas connection but does not get gas connection, then his money will be refunded.

He said, we have brought LNG worth tk 6 thousand crore from abroad. If a larger gas field is discovered in Bhola, the situation will change. Then we will not need 6000 crore for LNG import.

Fawzul Kabir Khan said, I will ask the chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) and Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA) to come and visit Bhola. If industries can be established here, it will be good for Bhola residents. People will get jobs and enjoy various facilities.

Energy advisor said, we are working on how to fully utilize the gas discovered in Bhola. We are thinking of setting up some more gas based power plants in Bhola. At that time, Secretary of Energy and Mineral Resources Department, Secretary of Power Department, Chairman of Petrobangla, Additional Secretary, Director of BAPEX, Private Secretary of Advisor, Deputy Commissioner of Bhola, Superintendent of Police (SP) and senior officials and employees of related departments were present.