DCCI estimates
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J
Jagaran Chakma
Bangladesh’s energy crisis is costing the industrial sector up to Tk 2,387 crore a day in lost economic output as factories continue to face supply disruptions, according to an estimate by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).“Even at 55 percent factory capacity, the daily loss would stand at around Tk 1,074 crore,” said Taskeen Ahmed, president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), referring to the chamber’s estimate.The figures underline the growing economic cost of the energy shortage, with manufacturers losing output, paying more for alternative fuels, struggling to meet export orders and holding back investment.Bangladesh’s industries have been grappling with the latest gas crisis for about a month, following the July 21 LNG terminal disruption. The situation has become particularly severe in industrial hubs over the past one to two weeks.Bangladesh currently has around 2,420 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd) against demand of about 3,800 mmcfd, leaving a shortfall of roughly 1,380 mmcfd, or 36 percent of demand.Around 800 mmcfd of LNG is being supplied, but industries continue to suffer from low gas pressure as a significant share of available gas is used for power generation.“The energy crisis should no longer be viewed merely as a supply-side problem. It is directly affecting industrial production, exports, investment and employment,” Taskeen said.The impact is already reflected in manufacturing growth, which slowed to 2.86 percent in fiscal year 2025-26 from 3.71 percent a year earlier, according to the DCCI president.
