Petrobangla Chairman Zanendra Nath Sarker announced that the company plans to reduce system loss at the distribution level to 2 percent, lowering it from the current 6.5 percent.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at a view exchange meeting at Petrocentre, Sarker emphasized Petrobangla’s commitment to tackling illegal gas connections and enhancing the efficiency of its gas distribution network through metering system and digitation.
“We have showed zero tolerance against illegal gas connections across the country,” he said.
To address illegal gas consumption, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC has launched a large-scale campaign to disconnect unauthorized gas connections and dismantle illegal pipelines.
Titas Gas is now supplying 56 percent of total the supply of 2950mmcfd of natural gas in the grid.
Attended at the view exchange meeting, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC managing director Shahnewaz Parvez said the Tas gas has disconnected 67 industrial gas connections with consumption of 25mmcfd alone at the recent past state minister for power and energy Nasrul Hamid’s Keraniganj areas.
He added the market prices of illegal gas use in Keraniganj estimated at Tk 6 crore monthly.
The company’s Vigilance Division has formed 10 special inspection teams targeting industrial, captive power, CNG (compressed natural gas), and commercial customers to intensify the drive at Titas area, according to him.
Additionally, 30 teams from the Metro Dhaka Marketing and Revenue Division are working in high-risk areas like Jinjira and Keraniganj, conducting weekly operations to identify and disconnect illegal connections.
Furthermore, the Regional Marketing Division has set up 15 teams, each comprising three Area-Based Division (ABD) officials, to inspect designated areas. Together, these 55 teams are actively disconnecting illegal connections in a coordinated effort to curb unauthorized gas consumption.
Despite these initiatives, the crackdown faces substantial challenges. Petrobangla personnel have encountered organized resistance from criminal groups, with some workers even being taken hostage during operations, he added.
Delays in receiving permits for road excavation have also hindered the removal of illegal pipelines, as criminal syndicates continue to install unauthorized connections under cover of night.
In areas such as Kamrangirchar and Karail, fraudulent networks quickly reinstall illegal connections after disconnection, exploiting weak enforcement and minimal fines.
Nevertheless, Petrobangla remains resolute in its efforts. The company has strengthened its collaboration with law enforcement agencies and magistrates to ensure fines are imposed on violators, deterring future offenses. Public awareness campaigns through media outlets are also being conducted to educate consumers about the risks and legal consequences of using illegal gas connections.
Between July 2023 and June 2024, Petrobangla and its subsidiaries disconnected over 206,000 illegal gas burners and removed approximately 443 kilometers of unauthorized pipelines, contributing to gas savings and aligning with Petrobangla’s goal of reducing system losses and improving distribution efficiency, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution company general manager Engr Md Salim Uddin said the meeting. Directors of Petrobangla also attended at the view exchange meeting.
