Gas transmission and distribution companies have made notable strides in reducing system losses, meeting their individual February targets as outlined in the government’s declared roadmap. The goal is to bring overall losses below 4% by June 2026.
The update came during a meeting on 16 April at the secretariat, chaired by interim Energy Adviser Dr Faozul Kabir Khan, where February’s performance data was reviewed.
Bangladesh’s largest distributor, Titas Gas, achieved its February system loss target of 9.20%, a marked improvement from 10.53% in January. Meanwhile, Bakhrabad Gas Distribution surpassed expectations, reducing losses from 13.60% in January to 9.47% in February—well below its 11.50% target. In the Chattogram region, Karnaphuli Gas Distribution posted a sharp drop, from 4.60% to 2.55%.
The country’s sole transmission firm, GTCL, also cut losses significantly—from 2.23% in January to 1.16% in February. Nationwide, system loss for February stood at 9%. The interim government has directed that this figure be halved by June 2026.
Titas Gas continues to face the steepest challenges, contending with widespread illegal connections and an ageing network of decaying pipelines. From January 2023 to February 2025, inspections were conducted over 4,070 kilometres of pipelines, uncovering 9,384 leak points—highlighting the scale of deterioration.
By contrast, other firms reported minimal issues over the same period: just two leaks at GTCL’s Jalalabad operations, eleven at Karnaphuli, three at Bakhrabad, and one at Paschimanchal Gas.
Though long criticised for inefficiency, Titas Gas appears to have turned a corner.
A sweeping enforcement campaign in the first quarter of 2025 saw the company carry out 79 mobile court drives and 485 separate operations—a record for any single gas firm. These efforts resulted in the removal of 91 illegal industrial connections, 90 commercial connections, 24,533 unauthorised stoves, and 54 kilometres of illegal pipelines.
Shahnewaz Parvez, managing director of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, told barta24.com that the company is acting decisively in line with the roadmap to halve system losses by mid-2026. “We have delegated responsibilities by zones and PetroBangla is actively repairing leaks,” he added.
However, Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) data reveals a concerning trend: overall gas system loss rose by 5% in the July–December period compared to the previous year. In FY2023–24, losses stood at 8.43%, but in the first half of the current financial year, they reached 13.53%. Globally, system losses below 2% are considered standard, and BERC has long recommended aligning with this benchmark.
The interim government’s energy adviser reiterated his firm stance on reducing losses.
“We’ve set achievable targets. Those who meet them will be rewarded. Those who don’t will face consequences,” he stated at the meeting.
