Bangladesh’s energy crisis hits industry and homes
The state-owned factory, located near the eastern Titas gas field, shut down in March 2025 after a sharp decline in gas production, which was attributed to underinvestment in ageing fields and exploration. The crisis has since been compounded by disruptions to imports from the Middle East amid the US-Iran war. Households have also faced disruptions, with domestic piped-gas supplies frequently cut. Gas-fired power plants are struggling to meet electricity demand, resulting in regular blackouts. Electricity generation, industrial units and captive power plants account for more than three-quarters of Bangladesh’s natural gas consumption, leaving households to bear the impact of worsening shortages.
Bangladesh was largely self-sufficient in natural gas in 2018, but production declined as older fields were depleted while demand continued to rise.
“We don’t get a drop of gas overnight,” said housewife Nargis Begum, 50, who lives near the Ashuganj factory. “The previous government stayed away from gas exploration,” he told an energy security conference in Dhaka in July. “Our dependence on imports has brought us to this point.”
Households account for just over a tenth of the country’s gas consumption but have also faced frequent disruptions. Many households, particularly in rural areas, have switched to wood-burning stoves, while frequent power cuts have left residents without fans amid sweltering humidity. The crisis has been building for years. The country has increasingly relied on imports, with Qatar emerging as a key supplier.