State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Anindya Islam Amit, has described the country’s energy and mineral resources sector as the “backbone” of its ambition to build a trillion-dollar economy.
Speaking at the inauguration of drilling operations at the Kamta-2 gas well in Kaliganj, Gazipur, on Wednesday, Mr Amit said reducing dependence on foreign energy sources and maximising the use of domestic resources would be critical to sustaining economic growth.
The minister said Bangladesh’s industrial expansion was being constrained by shortages in energy supply, revealing that around 570 factories are currently waiting for gas connections, leaving investments worth billions of taka stalled.
“If we can ensure gas supply to these industries, millions of employment opportunities will be created, which will help turn the nation’s trillion-dollar economy dream into reality,” he said.
Bangladesh, one of South Asia’s fastest-growing economies over the past decade, has faced mounting pressure on its energy sector amid rising industrial demand and global fuel price volatility.
The government has increasingly focused on boosting domestic gas exploration to reduce reliance on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Mr Amit said the government’s long-term objective was to eliminate the gap between energy demand and supply, adding that achieving energy security remained central to the country’s economic strategy.
Among those attending the ceremony were Md Abdul Mannan, chairman of Petrobangla, along with Md Abdul Jalil managing director of BGFCL and senior official of BGFCL Engr A.K.M. Jasim Uddin.