Bangladesh currently owes $348 million to international oil companies (IOCs) and LNG suppliers, including $167 million to LNG providers such as QatarEnergy and $181 million to Chevron and other IOCs. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) has sought Tk 5 billion from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to clear outstanding bills and meet the daily energy demand. Rising energy demand and limited domestic gas production—2550 million cubic feet per day (MCFD) against a demand of 3750 MCFD—have forced Bangladesh to import LNG since 2017. In 2022, the country imported 5.06 million tonnes of LNG at a cost of $4.55 billion, creating a financial burden as it supplies LNG to consumers at subsidized rates.
The recent dollar crisis has compounded the issue, delaying payments to energy suppliers. Additionally, Bangladesh owes $900 million to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and rental power plants, further straining foreign reserves. Officials remain optimistic about settling the dues in the coming months.
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