Bangladesh imposes earlier shop closures and billboard bans amid severe power shortage
Bangladesh has ordered malls, markets and shops to shut by 8 p.m. and required illuminated billboards to be turned off, as the nation struggles with a deep gas shortage and rolling blackouts.
Bangladesh's government has tightened energy-saving rules, requiring malls, markets and shops to close an hour earlier at 8 p.m. and mandating that illuminated billboards be switched off by 7 p.m.; fairs and cultural events must also conclude by 8 p.m. The policy excludes food outlets, hospitals and pharmacies. The move comes as the country's total gas supply fell to around 2,100 mmcfd, far below the daily need of about 3,800 mmcfd, with domestic fields providing roughly 1,630 mmcfd and two floating LNG terminals supplying up to 410 mmcfd.
An accident at an Excelerate Energy terminal in late July and weather-related limits on a Summit-run terminal have reduced LNG imports, worsening the shortfall. Consequently, gas-fired power plants cannot meet demand, creating an average 2,745 MW deficit at peak hours and causing load-shedding that can last up to twelve hours a day in some areas. The crisis is amplified by global market volatility linked to the Iran situation, which has driven up LNG prices and strained Bangladesh's reliance on imported fuel.
Why it matters
The restrictions highlight Bangladesh's acute energy crisis, affecting daily life and economic activity across the country.
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