Gas supply to normalise within 2-3 days: Energy minister

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood on Thursday said gas supply across the country is expected to return to normal within the next two to three days as the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) has resumed operations.

"Gas supply was disrupted due to a technical fault in the FSRU, which was fixed this afternoon," he told reporters at his ministry.

The minister said gas transmission had already resumed and pressure in the national gas network would improve gradually.

Replying to a question on when the situation would return to normal, he said, "It will take at least two to three days. We will be able to overcome the current situation."

He said the temporary gas shortage had also affected electricity generation, forcing several power plants to shut down and causing load shedding in different parts of the country.

Responding to complaints about unusually high electricity bills, Mahmood urged consumers to submit their bills for verification.

"The authorities asked consumers to submit their bills, but many did not follow the instructions," he said, adding that electricity tariffs had been revised for the June-July billing period.

Earlier in the day, the minister held a meeting with Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi to discuss bilateral issues of mutual interest.

"I have previously held meetings with many ambassadors. The meeting with the Indian High Commissioner was also a routine one. As India is our neighbouring country, we have many areas of mutual interest, and those issues were discussed," he said.