Bangladesh is standing at a dangerous crossroads in its energy journey. According to energy experts and official data from Petrobangla, the country has only five years’ worth of natural gas reserves left. If current consumption rates continue and no new discoveries are made, natural gas may run out entirely by 2030.
What’s more alarming is that offshore exploration is stalled, and onshore drilling efforts have yet to yield significant results. The inevitable consequence of this stagnation is increased reliance on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) - a costly alternative that could trigger a sharp rise in the cost of living, cripple industrial output, and disrupt the energy security of the nation.
 Natural Gas Reserves Depleting Rapidly: Natural gas has long been the backbone of Bangladesh’s energy sector, powering homes, industries, and power plants. However, production has been in a steady decline for the past several years. In 2017, the country extracted around 2.7 billion cubic feet per day. As of 2025, that figure has dropped to approximately 1.8 billion cubic feet per day. 
According to Petrobangla, Bangladesh had a total of 28.79 TCF (trillion cubic feet) of recoverable natural gas reserves based on the 2010 gas reserve survey. Up to the end of the 2022-23 fiscal year, the country had extracted 20.33 TCF, leaving just 8.46 TCF in known reserves.
“If this trend continues, gas supply will dwindle to levels unsuitable for commercial use within five years,” warned Dr. Ijaz Hossain, noted energy expert. “By 2030, the supply may be so low that it will no longer support industry or households efficiently.”
Infrastructure Bottlenecks Blocking Production: Although Bangladesh has 29 gas fields, only 20 are currently active. Several newly discovered or previously untapped fields are sitting idle due to the absence of supporting pipeline infrastructure and processing facilities. Inactive or unutilized fields include: Ilisha and Bhola North (Bhola), Zakiganj and Kutubdia (Sylhet).
Even though these fields show promising gas reserves, the infrastructure to connect them to the national grid has not been developed. Experts point out that policy paralysis and bureaucratic delays are holding back much-needed progress. Adding to the challenge, five gas fields - including Rupganj, Chhatak, Kamta, Feni, and Sangu - have already ceased production. These fields collectively held 661 BCF of gas but are no longer considered commercially recoverable.
 Exploration Efforts Too Slow to Reverse the Trend: To tackle the crisis, the government has launched a series of initiatives: A plan to dig and work over 100 wells (including 31 old and 69 new wells), Special focus on 50 onshore wells planned since 2022.
However, energy officials admit that progress has been slower than expected, and no major breakthroughs have been achieved yet. Despite drilling in four onshore fields, the output from each is expected to be only 15 to 25 million cubic feet per day - insufficient to offset the sharp decline in existing production.
Energy analysts argue that at least 10 new wells must be drilled each year to maintain even the current supply of 2,000 MMCFD (million cubic feet per day). Failing to do so could leave the country critically short of energy, especially in peak industrial and agricultural seasons.
Offshore Potential Remains Untapped: One of the most glaring gaps in Bangladesh’s energy strategy is the lack of progress in offshore gas exploration. The Bay of Bengal, which has been termed a potential goldmine for natural gas, remains largely unexplored due to a combination of: Geopolitical caution, Lack of advanced exploration technologies, Reluctance from international oil companies due to policy inconsistencies.
Despite repeated calls from the energy community, offshore blocks have not been developed into viable exploration or production zones. According to Dr. Badrul Imam, President of the Bangladesh Geological Society, “Energy-rich deltaic regions around the world show great potential. Bangladesh must treat offshore exploration as a national emergency.”
LNG: An Expensive and Risky Substitute: As natural gas reserves decline, Bangladesh is increasingly relying on imported LNG to meet domestic demand. But this solution comes with heavy financial burdens.
Domestic gas costs around Tk 3 per cubic meter, Imported LNG, on the other hand, costs around Tk 55 per cubic meter. That’s over 18 times higher, putting immense pressure on both the government’s subsidy budget and consumers’ wallets.
The consequences are already visible: Electricity production costs are rising, Household gas bills are increasing, Industrial production is becoming more expensive, Small businesses are shutting down due to fuel costs. 
Dr. Ijaz Hossain warns, “Overdependence on LNG will push the country into a cost spiral. Inflation will rise, and industries may lose competitiveness in the global market.”
The Need for a Coherent Energy Strategy: Experts agree that Bangladesh’s energy woes stem not from a lack of resources, but from policy gaps, institutional inertia, and delayed execution. To mitigate the looming crisis, energy professionals and economists are proposing a multi-pronged strategy: Accelerated Drilling Programs: The 100-well project must be fast-tracked with clear timelines and accountability mechanisms. Priority should be given to high-potential onshore blocks with available infrastructure.
Urgent Offshore Exploration: Engagement with international oil and gas companies should be revived through policy stability, incentives, and legal safeguards.
Infrastructure Development: Pipeline and storage infrastructure should be extended to underutilized fields like Bhola and Zakiganj, allowing them to contribute to the national grid.
Improved Data and Surveys: The last national gas reserve survey was conducted in 2010. A new, comprehensive geological survey is urgently needed to update reserve estimates and identify new prospects.
Transition to Renewable Energy: While fossil fuels will remain important for years to come, a parallel investment in solar, wind, and hydro power must be made to reduce dependence on imported LNG.
Final Warning: A Ticking Clock: The clock is ticking. The energy sector, once a growth engine for Bangladesh, is now dangerously close to becoming a drag on the economy. Without immediate intervention, Bangladesh will be forced into an energy import model that is unsustainable, unaffordable, and unstable.
The ongoing crisis is not merely about gas - it’s about economic security, industrial competitiveness, and public welfare. Failing to act now could leave future governments scrambling to power the nation with dwindling resources and skyrocketing costs. “The warning signs are loud and clear,” said Dr. Badrul Imam. “We have five years - at best - to turn this around.”