Despite an acute fund crunch, the Bangladeshi government is moving forward with plans to buy one liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from the spot market in September 2023. The outstanding payments to suppliers total approximately US$113 million, which prompted warnings from TotalEnergies and Gunvor Singapore to clear the dues or forfeit monetary guarantees. The state-run Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Ltd (RPGCL) has floated a tender for the spot LNG cargo, with bids due by July 30. The cargo is intended for delivery to the Moheshkhali floating storage and re-gasification unit (FSRU) on September 11-12.
Since resuming spot LNG imports after a seven-month hiatus, Bangladesh has already imported or awarded a total of 17 spot LNG cargoes. The RPGCL plans to import three more spot LNG cargoes until December. Additionally, in September, the government will import a total of five LNG cargoes, three from Qatargas and two from OQ Trading (formerly known as Oman Trading International), similar to the import pattern in August. Despite the delayed payments, both long-term and spot LNG suppliers continue to supply to Bangladesh.