Advance Action on Procurement, Recruitment of Consultants

Country/Borrower: People's Republic of Bangladesh

Title of Proposed Project: Natural Gas Access Improvement Project

Date of Advance Contracting Approval: 8 December 2009

Executing Agency:

Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL)
Contact: Managing Director
Address: Red Crescent-Borak Tower (Level-6), 71-72 Old Elephant Road, Eskaton, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Telephone No.: 880-2-936 2800
Fax No.: 880-2-935 8100
E-mail address: gtcl@citech.net
Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited (BGFCL)
Contact: Managing Director
Address: Birashar, Brahmanbaria-3400, Bangladesh
Telephone No.: 880-2-882 0275
Fax No.: 880-2-831 6267
E-mail address: gsc.bgfcl@yahoo.com
Sundarban Gas Company Limited (SGCL)
Contact: Project Director
Address: 13th floor, Petrocenter, 3 Kawran Bazar C/A, Eskaton, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh
Telephone No.: 880-2-912 2817
Fax No.: 880-2-811 2194
E-mail address: sundarbangas@yahoo.com
Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited (TGTDCL)
Contact: Managing Director
Address: 105, Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Kawran Bazar C/A, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh
Telephone No.: 880-2-811 1717
Fax No.: 880-2-811 3031
E-mail address: pdslrp@dbn-bd.net
Brief Description of the Project:

The Government of Bangladesh has applied for a loan/grant from ADB to help finance the cost of the Natural Gas Access Improvement Project.

The proposed Project is expected to increase access to and reliability of natural gas supply for sustained economic growth by reinforcing and augmenting natural gas supply and addressing policy and institutional constraints. The main outcome of the proposed Project is expanded capacity and improved efficiency in natural gas production, transmission and distribution systems.

The proposed Project comprises four components:

  1. Transmission Capacity Expansion

    Two subcomponents will assist transmitting gas to the consumption centers including less developed regions of the country:

    "Ashuganj-Bakhrabad gas transmission loopline" subcomponent consists of construction of a 30-inch-diameter, 61 km gas loop pipeline from Ashuganj to Bakhrabad with a throughput of 400 MMCFD, and installation of major transmission-distribution interface metering and regulating stations at selected locations (such as Manohardi, Dewanbhog, Kutumbpur, Feni and Barabkund).

    "Gas compressors at Ashuganj and Elenga" subcomponent involves installation of compressors at Ashuganj with a maximum throughput of 2,200 MMCFD, and at Elenga with a maximum throughput of 500 MMCFD.

  2. Safety and Supply Efficiency Improvement of Titas Gas Field

    The component includes two subprojects. One subproject consists of identification of the causes of gas seepages and undertaking of remedial works in existing problematic wells at Titas field. The other subproject comprises appraisal and development of Titas field to upgrade the estimated gas in place, involving addition of four development wells and installation of processing plants to increase gas production by 120 MMCFD.

  3. Access Improvement in South Western Region

    The component involves the construction of 2-inch to 20-inch diameter, gas distribution pipelines of about 845 km to provide gas supplies covering districts of Kushtia, Jhenidah, Jessore, Khulna and Bagerhat (including Mongla).

  4. Supply and Demand Management

    The component comprises installation of pre-paid meters for domestic consumers and remote metering for industrial consumers on pilot basis, and includes developing a portfolio of projects relating to energy efficiency improvement.

Brief Description of Goods and Related Services, or Works to be Procured::

ADB has approved the Government's request for advance contracting to expedite project implementation. Advance contracting will include: (i) preparation of tender documents, and (ii) evaluation of bids. The advance contracting will be undertaken in accordance with ADB's Procurement Guidelines.