Bhola gas to reach Khulna by pipeline by 2030, state minister for energy says, with idle power plants to be restarted

The Khulna region has long lagged in industrialisation for lack of gas and uninterrupted energy supply. To change that, the government is working to a target of bringing gas from Bhola to Khulna by pipeline by 2030.

A feasibility study for an LNG terminal in Khulna is also under way, and steps have been taken to restart power plants left closed or idle for lack of fuel, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit has said.

He made the remarks on Thursday (November 12) at noon as chief guest at the Khulna divisional round exhibition and evaluation of the national science and technology competition 'Bhabishyat Bigyanir Khonje-2026', organised by the Ziaur Rahman Foundation at Khulna University.

The state minister said Khulna's jute mills once carried the division's name across the world and made an important contribution to the national economy. But many factories closed, unable to survive competition and for lack of gas and uninterrupted energy. Khalishpur, Daulatpur and Mongla hold vast industrial potential that cannot be used for want of fuel, he said.

He said there is a plan for a special economic zone in Mongla, and a large economic zone is also being built at Abhaynagar in Jashore. But none of these initiatives will work unless gas supply is assured. That is why, alongside bringing gas by pipeline from Bhola, the feasibility study for an LNG terminal has begun.

The state minister cited former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's 2005 announcement as the inspiration for the initiative; at that time there was a plan to provide gas connections to Khulna division by 2007.

Anindya Islam Amit said that, including the 880-megawatt plant at Rupsha, two more power plants in Khulna with a combined capacity of about 1,400 megawatts are lying idle for lack of fuel, and steps have been taken to start them. The government is also working to start the power plants at Mongla, Khalishpur, Daulatpur, Abhaynagar in Jashore and Bhairabbazar, he said.

Praising the students' innovative projects, the state minister said their initiatives — salt-tolerant rice production, early flood warnings, fuel from kitchen waste and biomass, modern technology in fish farming and livestock disease detection — can help solve real problems in people's lives.

He said the ministry had funded Khulna University of Engineering and Technology's pilot project to produce biofuel from kitchen waste. As the project succeeded, steps are now being taken to expand it commercially, and the ministry will work with Khulna City Corporation on this.

The state minister also announced new initiatives for students. The corporate social responsibility (CSR) framework of companies under the ministry is being restructured to provide scholarships to meritorious students. There is also a plan to create one-to-three-month internship opportunities at power plants for electrical and mechanical engineering students.

Khulna University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Rezaul Karim chaired the event, where National Parliament Whip Rakibul Islam was special guest. Khulna City Corporation Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju and teachers and officials of the university also spoke.