Bangladesh to Develop Two New LNG Import Terminals by 2030
Bangladesh will commission a new floating LNG unit by 2028 and a land‑based terminal at Matarbari by 2030, expanding its regasification capacity to meet rising demand.
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Desk Analysis
How This Affects the Exchange
Sector Effect
Positive · Buy bias
Bangladesh’s expanding LNG import capacity boosts regional demand, favoring Pakistan’s Oil & Gas sector and OGDC – Buy bias.
Sectors & Direction
Desk read
Desk call: Buy bias · Positively affected
- Oil & GasPositively affected
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- OGDC· Positively affected · Buy bias
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Sectors: Oil & Gas — Positive · Buy bias. PSX tickers: OGDC. Bangladesh’s expanding LNG import capacity boosts regional demand, favoring Pakistan’s Oil & Gas sector and OGDC – Buy bias.
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Open on Dawn## New LNG Infrastructure Plans
Bangladesh’s state minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Anindya Islam Amit, announced at the LNG Producer‑Consumer Conference in Tokyo that the country will add two major LNG import facilities. A floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) on Moheshkhali Island, Cox’s Bazar, is slated for commissioning by 2028 with a capacity of about 600 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd). A land‑based terminal at Matarbari is targeted for completion by 2030, capable of regasifying roughly 1,000 mmcfd.
## Current Capacity and Future Demand
Bangladesh presently operates two floating LNG terminals that together can handle up to 1,100 mmcfd. The new projects will raise total regasification capacity to around 2,600 mmcfd. The country expects to need an additional 3‑4 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG between 2026‑2030, climbing sharply to 17‑18 mtpa for the 2031‑2040 period as demand for cleaner fuel grows.
## Supply Challenges and Market Context
Last year Bangladesh imported nearly 7 million tonnes of LNG, mainly from Qatar. Recent geopolitical tensions, notably the US‑Iran conflict, disrupted QatarEnergy shipments after its facilities were damaged, prompting a force‑majeure declaration. In July, QatarEnergy cut scheduled deliveries to Bangladesh by half, citing the fallout from the Iran war that constrained tanker routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Consequently, Bangladesh’s state‑owned Petrobangla is seeking alternative sources, including spot‑market purchases and government‑to‑government agreements.
## Regional Implications
Higher regional LNG demand could benefit exporters in the broader South Asian market, including Pakistan, which imports LNG to meet its own energy needs. An expanded Bangladeshi market may open new avenues for Pakistani LNG traders and for domestic oil‑and‑gas companies that could supply or broker LNG cargoes.
## Outlook
The projects are part of Bangladesh’s long‑term strategy to diversify its energy mix away from coal and reduce reliance on spot imports. Completion of the FSRU and land terminal will likely increase regional LNG trade volumes and could provide growth opportunities for Pakistani oil‑and‑gas firms involved in LNG supply chains.