Bangladesh Revives 20-Year-Old Myanmar Gas Pipeline Proposal Amid Energy Crisis

• Facing a severe energy shortage, the Bangladesh government is reviving a dormant proposal to import natural gas from Myanmar via a cross-border pipeline.
• The initiative follows a major fire at a floating LNG terminal operated by US-based Excelerate Energy in Maheshkhali, which caused a nationwide supply crisis.
• Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, held talks with the Myanmar ambassador to explore both pipeline imports and short-term LNG shipments via a Joint Technical Committee.

Historical Context

• A similar trilateral project (Bangladesh-India-Myanmar) was negotiated between 2003 and 2005 to transport gas to northeastern India via Bangladesh, but it collapsed after India rejected Bangladesh's transit conditions.
• Officials hope to re-evaluate the project now within the context of the China-Myanmar-Bangladesh Economic Corridor.

Challenges and Constraints

• Export capacity: Most of Myanmar's gas reserves are already committed to China under long-term agreements.
• Investment and timeline: Pipeline infrastructure requires multi-billion-dollar investments and takes years to complete, offering no immediate relief for the current emergency.

Economic Implications

• The crisis highlights the vulnerability of the ready-made garment (RMG) sector and the national economy to fragile, import-dependent supply chains.
• Analysts emphasize that long-term resilience requires diversifying short-term supply channels and accelerating investment in grid-connected renewable energy infrastructure.