“All the three plants will be run by either furnace oil or natural gas,” chairman of Power Development Board (PDB) ASM Alamgir Kabir told the FE.

Two of them, to be built at Keraniganj and Madanganj, will have 150 mw to 225 mw capacity each and generate electricity for 22 years and the remaining one at Jamalpur with 100 mw will generate power for 15 years.

State-owned PDB earlier invited pre-qualification (PQ) bids for the three plants and set June 6 next as the last date for submission of documents.

With these three, 11 fossil fuel run power plant projects are now put on offer for the private bidders from home and abroad to generate a total of 2,120 mw electricity.

The BPDB will provide land for the power plants and purchase electricity from the operators at their offered rates.

The state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) will provide fuel for the furnace oil-run IPP power plants.

Contract signing with the bid winners for all the power plant projects is expected to take place in January 2011.

The power ministry will appoint an evaluation committee for each of the projects to scrutinise the applications.

The aspiring sponsors may apply either individually or as a consortium for the power plant projects, but they must have previous international experience in this field.

In case of consortium, the lead member and the operating members must have required equity participation and experience and must meet financial and technical criteria as stated in the bid documents.

The government is putting electricity generation high on agenda as it has pledged to increase the country’s overall electricity generation to 5000 mw by 2011 and to 7000 mw by 2013.

Bangladesh’s electricity generation is now hovering around 4000 mw against the demand for over 5500 mw during peak hours.

The power ministry recently presented a number of power plant projects, including those already offered, before the investors during three overseas road-shows in London, New York and Singapore.

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Shot-in-the-Gas signed an exclusive MOU in Bangladesh to conduct a large field-test of the Shot in the Gas fuel additive. The company supplied a local transit system in Bangladesh to use the additive in transit buses for a period of one month, and transit’s operators will monitor the overall transit’s diesel consumption during this period, comparing it with the previous months. Shot-in-the-Gas expects the test results by the end of February 2010.

Mr. Barbee said, “This is a large scale test for us and we gladly share our product to see it in use on such a scale. Some of Asia’s transit systems use outdated automobile technology and greatly contribute to the poor air quality and pollution in the cities. Our product can lower the emissions by 60% and increase gas mileage by over 15%, especially in diesel engines. We expect positive test results from this cooperation, and we also hope that this test will also open new business and cooperation opportunities for Shot in the Gas in South Asia.

We also intend to present these test results as a part of our marketing campaign that we launched to market our Shot in the Gas products. Our campaign starts on the East Coast and we plan to expand it over the US soon after.”

In other company news and events, in accordance with Chinese customary business etiquette, ahead of any major or significant business event (merger Sanhe Tech); last night the company agents and representatives attended a ceremonial celebration with the provincial government of Jianxi in China. In attendance were Vice Mayor of Nanchang City, Vice minister of Foreign Affairs Jianxi Province Deputy Secretary Nanchang City. The event featured two Jianxi companies Sanhe Tech destined for SKGO and Jiang Xi Rongyu Pharmaceutical Group, Inc subsidiary of HIRU. Other business leaders found the event a great networking venue for the businesses of the Jianxi region.

To be included in SKGO’s email database for press releases and industry updates, please subscribe at or opt in with your email address at this link http://www.minamargroup.com/updates/.

Safe Harbor Statement

Information in this news release may contain statements about future expectations, plans, prospects or performance of SkyBridge Technology Group Inc. that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the Safe Harbor Provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words or phrases “can be”, “expects”, “may affect”, “believed”, “estimate”, “project” and similar words and phrases are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SkyBridge Technology Group Inc. cautions you that any forward-looking information provided by or on behalf of SkyBridge Technology Group Inc. is not a guarantee of future performance. None of the information in this press release constitutes or is intended as an offer to sell securities or investment advice of any kind. SkyBridge Technology Group Inc.’s actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, some of which are beyond SkyBridge Technology Group Inc.’s control. In addition to those discussed in SkyBridge Technology Group Inc.’s press releases, public filings, and statements by SkyBridge Technology Group Inc.’s management, including, but not limited to, SkyBridge Technology Group Inc.’s estimate of the sufficiency of its existing capital resources, SkyBridge Technology Group Inc.’s ability to raise additional capital to fund future operations, SkyBridge Technology Group Inc.’s ability to repay its existing indebtedness, the uncertainties involved in estimating market opportunities, and in identifying contracts which match SkyBridge Technology Group Inc.’s capability to be awarded contracts. All such forward-looking statements are current only as of the date on which such statements were made. SkyBridge Technology Group Inc. does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which any such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

CONTACT: For any investor relations matters, please contact www.minamargroup.net/helpdesk; Investor Relations Department Inquiry, http://www.minamargroup.net (IR); For (M&A) and Corporate Matters, http://www.minamargroup.com

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Before we suggest remedial measures to overcome present crisis let us have a bird?s eye view of the Gas system of Bangladesh. Government still controls almost 100% of the Gas system planning, development and operation. Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry controls every affair. There is a so called Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) which has mandate to regulate independently all energy sector activities excepting upstream of the petroleum sector. But for several years after commencement of activities BERC is not fully operational. Consequently private sector is not allowed level play ground in infrastructure v development and operation. BERC also remains old man house for retired beauracrats of the past. EMRD owns 100% share of several exploration, production, transmission, distribution & marketing companies of gas and two mining companies. Some International oil companies operate some gas fields in their assigned blocks under PSC with Petrobangla and Government.IOCs share Production with PB. PB has to buy IOC share of gas at much higher than Bangladesh price of gas. IOCs upfront investment is recovered from PB share of gas. Market price of gas is comparatively lower than IOC price which creates discomfort for PB companies in earning profit and reinvest in exploration and development activities. PB companies have to rely on fund from Government ADP or bilateral donor agencies and development partners. Service conditions are poor in Gas industries. For various reasons hundreds of qualified and competent well trained professionals have left PB company jobs for better opportunities abroad. Consequently all SOEs of gas sector have become weak and sick. These can hardly plan and implement any major projects or operate system professionally.

Petrobangla system operation is unbundled on functional lines. But there is o defined gas market structure. Petrobangla buys gas from IOCs. But marketing companies buy gas from national producers. PB Transmission Company GTCL owns, operators, develops and maintains National Gas Grid. It evacuates gas from national producers and IOCs. But GTCL has no contract with any one. Government arbitrarily decide wheeling charge for GTCL with out any economic basis. National Production companies doing same kind of works get much less price than IOCs for the gas produced. The following companies carry out specific tasks.

Exploration & Production

Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration & Production Company (BAPEX)

Production:

Sylhet Gas Fields Ltd (SGFL).

Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Ltd (BGFCL)

Transmission

Gas Transmission Company Ltd (GTCL)

Distribution & Marketing Company.

Titas Gas Transmission & Distribution Company Ltd (TGTDCL).

Bakhrabad Gas System LTD (BGSL)

Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Ltd (JGTDSL)

Paschimanchal Gas Company Ltd (PGCL).

CNG & LPG from NG:

Rupantarita Gas Company Ltd (RPGCL)

Two new Companies are in the Offing

Karnaphulli Gas System Lid (KGSL) in Greater Chittagong

Sundarban Gas Company in Greater Khulna d Division.

Production Secnario:

According to Petrobangla Daily Gas & Condensate Production and Distribution Report 11-12 January 2010 the production capacity of 78 producing wells of 17 gas fields is 2000MMCFD. The production on the day was 1976.2 MMCFD. This production is about 276MMCFD higher than same time last year. Of the above 4 IOCs from 31 wells 6 gas fields produced 1050MMCFD of which Chevron alone from 20wells of 3 gas fields produced 895 MMCFD. Bibiyana alone produced 665.7MMCFD although PB states its capacity as 600MMCFD. Shangu Gas filed which until recently used to be main source of supply to Chittagong area producing about 140MMCFD now produces only 34MMCFD.Experts say unprofessional rate of production from Shangu has led to accelerated depletion of recoverable reserve of Shangu.

Three PB Production Companies on the other hand from 47 producing wells of 11 gas fields produced 925MMCFD against stated capacity of 957MMCFD.

Over the last 10 years very limited exploration activities have been carried out by IOCs and Petrobangla. The only discovery is a small Bhagura Gas field. BAPEX failed to explore any. Cairn and Chevron Spend 7 years cooling time over block 5, 7 and 10. Cairn deliberately delayed exploration at Magnama and Hatiya

Over the same period gas demand increased by 1000MCFD from 1400 in 1999. But gas production could only increase as Bibiyana, Moulavibazar and Bhangura came into operation. These deliver about 800MMCFD but production from several other fields Shangu, Benaibazar, Rashidpoor have gone down. The effective addition to national production is 600MMCFD. So the present capacity is now 2000MMCFD against coincident peak demand of 2400MMCFD.

This deficit situation could be avoided in PB Companies could complete their assigned gas field development works of ADB assisted Gas Transmission Development Project in Titas, Bakhrabad, Habiganj, Rashidpoor and Kaillastilla. Cairn should have completed exploration works at Magnama and Hatiya. BAPEX should have completed exploration at Sreekail, development of Semutang, Salda, and Meghna. About 300-400 MMCFD additional gas from all these efforts was very much possible from honest professional efforts. This gas by this time could allow generation of at least another 1000MCFD power and could supply gas to all other connected consumers.

Transmission System:

GTCL operated National Gas Grid Capacity started getting saturated by 2003. Sensing present situation in advance and acknowledging the development efforts of Chevron at Bibiyana GTCL suggested for setting up of Pipeline Compressor stations by early 2008 at Muchai and Ashuganj to evacuate additional production of northern Gas fields. There were specific reasons to set these up by 2008. GTCL in early 2005 also planned to carry out on-stream pigging of North ?South Transmission Pipeline and R- A l Loop line to retrieve transmission capacity of the system. But unfortunately neither the Compressor stations could be set up nor were the lines pigged. Evacuation of 650MMCFD gas in congested transmission Grid partially filled with condensate has caused massive low pressure problem on entire gas system.

We should try to understand natural gas unlike water is a compressible fluid. The transmission pipelines are designed to operate certain conditions. For N-S Corridor pipelines in National Gas grid these are

MAOP: 1076 PSIG and Terminal Pressure at Ashuganj Gas Manifold Station 850PSIG. Under this condition N-S Pipeline and R-A Loop Line can handle 420 +500 =920MMCFD gas without any pressure depletion at Ashuganj is pipelines were pigged regularly. Now two things have not been done pipelines were not pigged at all and no compressor station is available. In efforts to transport 1175 MMCFD through N-S Corridor Pressure at Ashuganj drops down to around 750PSIG. This causes low pressure at every load centre causing panic in gas franchise area.

Chittagong Area:

Anticipating the present situation in Chittagong judging from depletion of reserve from Shangu experts recommended constructing Loop Line from Bakhrabad ? Chittagong in early 2000. The other option was to push Cairn complete exploration at Magnama and Hatiya. But none of these happened. Shangu depleted from 140MMCFD to 35.Chittagong demand grew beyond 300MMCFD. National grid. National grid scenario can support only about 215 MMCFD to be diverted to Chittagong. So against a demand of 310-320MMCFD only 250MMCFD can be supplied to Chittagong. Moreover Chittagong Ring main capacity can only be partially utilised as a 20 inches Kalurgaht River Crossing section of the ring main has not be refurbished yet.

About 60MMCFD gas deficit of Chittagong is partially confronted either by shutting down CUFL or Raujan Power plant alternately. All kind of new connections have been kept suspended. Still the situation is deteriorating every day.

We can criticise BNP ? Jamat past regime for their non actions during their time. Yes they did not enough. But they could manage Chevron to develop Bibiyana and Moulavibazar Gas Fields, Manage Tullow to develop Bhagura Gas Field. But they neglected exploration; they did not give attention to Gas infrastructure projects. BNP- Jamat also pollicised gas sector management placing their own corrupt people displacing committed professionals.

But the present government in one year also failed to create any momentum in Gas sector. No credible movement are in view to increase gas production or expedite transmission infrastructure implementation. Present gas crisis is unbearable it is due to failure and inefficiency of Gas sector managers and political leadership.

In the last one year gas production has been theoretically increased by 200MMCFD. Demand must not have grown unless smart people added unauthorised connection. But then why consumers have to bear the burnt? Why CNG stations have to be shut down 2 days every week, why industries have to ration gas use? PM Hasina as Energy Minister must get reply from his Gas Sector managers and then tell people.

As Contingency measures the following actions must be taken immediately

Contingency Measures

Arrange to carry out On-stream Pigging of N-S, R-A and A-B Loop lines by March 2010. These will significantly improve Grid Pressure. Some Pig Cups can be flown in from Singapore or Dubai. Some fabrications at Scraper Stations can be accomplished within two weeks.
Professionally asses the reserve capacity of Bibiyana. It can supply @800MMCFD if some additional wells are drilled.
Shut down PUFF and ration gas supply by 5MMCFD each from ZFCL, UFFG and JFCL.
Carry out intensive drive in Titas system to disconnect delinquent Consumers.

These works must be done immediately as summer following the irrigation time will create more challenges.

For Chittagong there are no immediate relief. CUFL and Raujan are to be kept shut down alternately. But some mid term actions can be taken.

Resolve dispute with NIKO. It should increase production from Feni or quit returing the gas field to BGFCL.
Complete works of Semutang expeditiously.
Make Cairn Expedite exploration at Magnama and Hatiya.
Carry out feasibility of setting up Floating LNG Terminal beside Shangu Offshore platform

Mahajote Government and the nation must realise what damage militarisation and beauracratisation and finally politicisation of gas sector management has done.. If they follow the same route they can not bail out the sinking economy from the edge of ruins. Will any one listen to our SOS?

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After coming to operation in 1988 it could not produce at expected rate for even 12 years. This according to many is one of the most expensive gas resource development projects where costs were revised and approved several times in not too transparent manner.

In the name of accelerated Development a hurriedly laid and poorly designed offshore pipeline required expensive refurbishment 5 years after commissioning. Unprofessional rate of production ignoring advice of PB Reservoir specialist Late Quazi Shahidur Rahman caused unfortunate depletion of reserve within 5 years of production.

Unnecessary setting up of white elephant 520MMCFD capacity gas plant at Salimpoor opposite to?Faujdarhat Cadet?College?caused huge drainage of money through cost recovery. This field never ever produced even 50 % of the capacity of the plant.

The gas field tripped more than 100 times causing gas draught in the?Chittagong?area. For the last three years it is dying its natural death causing immense miseries to all gas users inChittagong?area.

PSC permits any operator to produce a maximum of 12% per annum of Ultimate recoverable reserve from the field. The fact that Shangu is set to deplete completely soon if after producing @40MMCFD for the last three years evidence that the operation was managed very unprofessionally with virtually no PB overview. Some people off course made merry at the cost of the nation.

Chittagong?and BGSL franchise area must consider itself unfortunate as after Bakhrabad Gas field production disaster in late 90s of the last millennium Shangu is the second field which met same fate due to same reasons- over production.?Bangladesh?unfortunately did not learn lesson. Many apprehend same fate may happen to Bibiyana as well. Short visioned policy makers act irresponsibly leaving legacy for predecessors.

Shangu syndrome has put entire?Chittagong?area in serious Gas Crisis.Chittagong?most relied on gas from Shangu for a long time. From 140MMCFd production dropped down to 35 over the last two years. National Gas grid can not meet the requirement of?Chittagong?about 300MMCFD.

The deficit of about 60-70 MMCFD is causing serious crisis to power generation and industry operations. Government despite repeated suggestions did not build another loop line of Bakhrabad ?Chittagong to divert more gas from Grid The exploration and Development of Magnama and Hatiya and off shore exploration also did start till now. There is no way that Chittagong will get relief of gas crisis soon unless Government can undertake the following actions expeditiously:

1.??Construct Bakhrabad- Chittagong Loppline on top priority basis,

2.?Set up Floating LNG plant beside Shangu offshore platform and arrange to import 500MCCFd LNG within 2 years.

3. Steer Cairn effectively to complete exploration and development of Magnama and Hatiya prospects.

4. Complete works of Semutang ASAP.

5. Engage IOCs to explore in Offshore without any fuss

There can not be any major investment in Chittagong area in any energy consuming industry until gas situation is sorted out. There are floating LNG plant suppliers who can set up and commission floating LNF G facilities on Shangu area in less than two years. The platform and offshore pipeline and onshore gas plant can be utilised.

We hope PM Sheikh Hasina will act positively for it now for greater national interest. Several existing industries are seriously suffering from gas crisis. Many investors investing millions of dollars are waiting for gas connection. The situation is giving wrong signal to investment community.

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Hurray!!! One of the biggest natural gas discoveries in sea off Bangladesh.

Source : reuters

In an offshore field about 420 kilometres (263 miles)French oil firm Total SA (TOTF.PA) has discovered natural gas .

“We have had confirmation from the firm about the presence of natural gas in two blocks which also covered an island in the sea,” said Mohammad Muqtadir Ali, a director at the state-run Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation or Petrobangla.

?

“It is a great relief for us as the country at present is facing up to 250 million cubic feet (mmcf) of gas shortages a day,” Muqtadir told Reuters.

?

The firm said that both oil and gas might be there and was satisfied with the data they acquired through seismic survey, the official said.

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The European oil giant Total spent nearly $20 million to conduct the three dimensional survey in those structures in the sea near the Myanmar border covering 18,367 square kilometres.

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“If the acquired data matches the commercial viability, it will be one of the biggest natural gas discoveries (in the region) and if everything goes smoothly then production will be started by early 2012,” Muqtadir said.

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Total, the operator of these two blocks holds a 30 percent share while Irish oil company Tullow (TLW.L) owns 32 percent shares followed by Thai energy firm PTTEP with 30 percent. US companies Oakland and Rexwood hold the remaining shares.

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Blocks 17 and 18 are close to Myanmar’s gas blocks where that country discovered around 6.0 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas.

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Bangladesh with more than 13 tcf of gas reserves is currently producing about 1,800 mmcf of gas per day against the demand of more than 2,050 mmcfd

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The appoval is to begin exploration activities in hydrocarbon-rich southern Bangladesh which cost $55 million.will conduct a two-dimensional survey at block-7 that covers both onshore and offshore areas including world’s largest mangrove forest Sundarbans

From Reuters: The investment plan was approved after a continuing severe gas crisis halted operations of at least 300 manufacturing firms in southern Chittagong areas despite investment of more than $1 billion

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