Titas launches Tk 8,000cr plan to replace old pipelines

According to official sources, the project titled ‘Replacement and Improvement of the Existing Gas Network in Dhaka and Narayanganj City Corporation Area, incorporating GIS Mapping and SCADA System’ is scheduled for implementation between 2025 and 2030.

Officials said the initiative is designed to secure gas transmission and distribution for over 25 lakh consumers by preventing leakage, using a Geographic Information System (GIS) and SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system.

“The GIS will provide real-time data to enable immediate detection and repair of any leakage in the distribution and service pipelines,” said Shahnewaz Parvez, Managing Director of Titas Gas, in an interview with UNB.

GIS technology would assist in monitoring the location and spread of gas leaks and the affected areas, he added.

The project aims to enhance gas supply capacity from the current 275 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) to 1,008 MMCFD by installing 2,781.46 km of pipelines both upstream and downstream of gas stations.

This upgrade is intended to serve both existing and future customers within the Titas Franchise Area (TFA) in Dhaka and Narayanganj City Corporation.

Reducing carbon emissions by up to 0.50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (tCO₂-e) annually, and minimising gas leakage-related incidents—currently up to 66 per month—is also among the project’s stated objectives.

But officials expressed scepticism regarding timely implementation, as the Development Project Proposal (DPP) has been awaiting clearance from the Planning Commission for more than eight months.

According to the DPP, the total project cost of Tk 8,160.81 crore will be financed through a combination of government and Titas Gas funds (Tk 4,000 crore) and a loan from a donor agency (Tk 4,160 crore)—the New Development Bank (NDB), commonly known as the BRICS Bank.

The NDB is a multilateral development bank established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS).

Shahnewaz Parvez said Titas Gas has already completed a techno-economic feasibility study to overhaul the ageing, accident-prone pipelines in both Dhaka and Narayanganj.

Official sources indicated that the need to replace the ageing pipelines became a matter of urgency following a series of recent explosions and fires attributed to faulty and leaking gas lines.

One such incident occurred in Moghbazar last June, where a massive explosion killed at least six people and injured several others. Fire service officials suspected a leakage in a Titas gas line as the probable cause.

A more devastating tragedy took place at a mosque in Fatullah in 2020, where a leak in a Titas pipeline led to explosions in six air conditioners, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 people and injuring more than a dozen during Friday prayers. It remains one of the worst gas-related accidents in the country’s history.

In addition to these incidents, issues with pipeline leakage gained further attention when Titas began installing pre-paid gas meters in parts of the city. During these installations, Titas teams reportedly found significant leakage on both the customer and utility ends of the pipelines.

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, which has a customer base of 2.874 million, is responsible for gas supply in the greater Dhaka and Mymensingh regions.

As the largest and oldest gas distribution entity, established in 1964, Titas currently operates a 13,197 km underground pipeline network to distribute gas to consumers.

Industry insiders noted that a large portion of this network is considerably aged, with some pipelines dating back 40 to 50 years. Many of these lines have lost their structural integrity and now suffer frequent leakages, making replacement critical.