The gas distribution segment in Bangladesh has achieved a remarkable milestone, with system losses plummeting to 7.5 percent from a staggering 22 percent just two years ago. 

State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid disclosed this achievement during his visit to the headquarters of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited in the city on Thursday, as reported by UNB.

“Our target now is to bring the system loss to zero level within the next two years,” asserted Minister Nasrul Hamid, outlining the recent strides made by the Titas Gas Company, the largest entity in the gas distribution sector, serving approximately 2.8 million retail consumers out of a total of 4.8 million nationwide.

Over the past two years, the government has intensified efforts to tackle the issue of illegal gas connections, resulting in the disconnection of a staggering 865,000 unauthorized connections. 

Minister Nasrul detailed that 336 were industrial connections, 475 were commercial connections, 97 were captive power plants, and 13 were CNG stations. Additionally, 989 kilometers of illegal pipelines have been removed, and fines amounting to Tk 6.04 billion (6.04 billion) have been levied on illegal consumers.

He emphasized the government’s firm stance against illegal connections despite facing challenges from influential quarters, including local lawmakers and public representatives. He underscored the unwavering commitment of the Prime Minister, who also serves as the Minister of Energy and Power, to ensure strict enforcement in this regard.

Petrobangla chairman Zanendra Nath Sarker and Titas managing director Engr Md Haronur Rashid Mullah were present during the minister’s visit. Minister Nasrul revealed that Titas Gas Company has embarked on a monumental project worth Tk 120 billion (12,000 crore) in Dhaka and Narayanganj cities to replace aging pipelines and mitigate gas leakages.

Titas Gas is actively engaging with various donor agencies, including the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and JBIC of Japan, to introduce pre-paid gas meters to curb system losses in gas consumption.

Petrobangla chairman Zanendra Nath stressed the importance of accountability in gas trading, highlighting that all distribution and transmission companies have installed meters to ensure transparency in gas transactions.