DHAKA, July 2, 2026 (BSS) – The state-run Bangladesh Oil, Gas & Mineral Corporation, more known as Petrobangla, has intensified exploration campaigns, drilling new wells in various blocks for increased gas supply from domestic sources, officials said today.
   
“The government has adopted a 180-day work plan after assuming power to overcome the current energy crisis and maintain equilibrium between demand and supply,” Petrobangla Chairman Md Abdul Mannan told BSS. 
   
He said the government would engage state-run energy explorer BAPEX and other entities to explore gas fields by drilling new wells to meet the energy demand. 

Petrobangla officials said a target was set earlier to drill and “workover” in 150 wells while 29 wells were drilled by now finding around 270.8 million cubic feet (mmcfd) of gas. 

“Of the volume 139.6 mmcfd gas has by now been channeled to the national gas grid,” said a Petrobangla official familiar with the process. 

Under the plan, he said, around 82 million cubic feet of gas was to feed the grid daily.‘

It said that the drilling and workover activities of the remaining four wells were underway in line with the 180-day work plan.

The Petrobangla expected that upon successful completion, approximately an additional volume of 35 mmcfd of gas could be connected to the national grid.

Petrobangla Spokesperson Tariqul Islam Khan told BSS the government currently was supplying around 2,700 mmcfd against the demand of 3,800 mmcfd.
   
“We are trying to intensify domestic gas exploration activities to enhance energy security, reduce external dependence in view of the global energy crisis to ensure our sustainable economic growth,” he said.
   
The budget for the new fiscal allocated Tk 2,349 crore for the energy and mineral resources division to strengthen the country's energy security.

The spokesman simultaneously said the government also gave priority to both onshore and offshore natural gas exploration, alongside strengthening national capacity through Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX), a Petrobangla subsidiary.

The government launched a bidding round of shallow-water blocks for international oil companies (IOCs) to engage for exploration work under production-sharing agreements.