The absence of a dedicated monitoring team for the floating storage regasification units (FSRUs) in the Bay of Bengal near Maheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar raises concerns about the vulnerability of these vital facilities to sabotage and piracy.

While onshore facilities can be quickly secured by law enforcement, FSRUs, which supply a significant portion of the country’s gas, remain at risk of disruption due to their remote location.

Bangladesh began importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2018 to meet growing demand, with two FSRUs – operated by Excelerate Energy and Summit – now supplying around 1,000 mmcfd of gas each day.

The country’s gas demand is around 4,000 mmcfd, but the government can supply only 2,500-3,000 mmcfd. Disruption of FSRUs can cause significant power shortages, impacting electricity and industries, as happened after the suspension of one of these two floating terminals following massive damage caused by a cyclone in May this year.

The recent fire incidents on two oil vessels, Banglar Jyoti and Banglar Shourabh, operated by Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, have further fueled fears about the overall safety of offshore energy infrastructures.

The FSRUs are located in a highly vulnerable area of ​​the Gulf, approximately 20 km from the nearest police station, with limited protection from the Navy and Coast Guard due to their remoteness.

Under the agreement with the FSRU operators, the government is responsible for securing the floating LNG terminals and their associated tugs and service vessels, according to the operators.

But the government’s plan to form a dedicated security team involving the Navy and Coast Guard has been caught up in lengthy procedures.

While the formation of a special security team was discussed in the last inter-ministerial meeting on April 29, 2024, progress has been slow. At the meeting, the country’s first floating LNG import terminal operator, Excelerate Energy, presented a security plan with designated zones around FSRUs.

In particular, such a meeting is held annually to ensure the safety of FSRUs, the previous one was held on June 22, 2023.

Emails sent to Excelerate Energy for comment on the matter were not returned.

Mohsena Hassan, a spokeswoman for the other operator Summit, said: “The agreements required the government to provide security for both FSRUs. But there have been no updates since the last meeting in April 2024.”

The surrounding waters are a free navigation zone and enforcing restrictions in these areas has proven difficult without dedicated forces. So FSRU operators have to rely mostly on unarmed tugs for security, which is inadequate to avoid potential threats.

Engineer Nasir Uddin, Deputy Managing Director of Chattogram-based Gas Transition Company Limited, said: “The tugs of the FSRU operators drive away the fishing boats that come near the vessels as there are no other security measures.”

He added: “If someone comes from outside and attacks, there is a concern. In case of any major problems, we call the Navy and Coast Guard. I have also written to the local Naval Police to assist with security arrangements.”

Lieutenant Commander Abrar Hasan, Staff Officer (Operation) of the Bangladesh Coast Guard, told TBS that they conduct round-the-clock patrols to secure the country’s maritime territory.

“We remain in regular contact with the FSRU authorities and coordinate patrols with the Bangladesh Navy, but there is no dedicated team to provide 24/7 security to the FSRU,” he said.

Efforts to declare both KPI units are ongoing, with one unit already receiving Category 1(c) KPI status. However, even with this designation, security remains inadequate.

Engineer Nasir Uddin confirmed that although an FSRU has been declared a KPI, security remains insufficient.

He also mentioned that the process of forming a special team is ongoing, saying, “There are issues of recruiting separate manpower for the team. A study is being done for this. We expect to complete the process in a short time.”

Proposals have been made to establish a permanent police outpost and increase the capacity of the Naval Police, but the recruitment of additional personnel is still ongoing.

According to the Bangladesh Police Special Branch, both FSRUs and the connection point (a location on an existing facility or pipeline where new pipelines or equipment will be connected) are highly susceptible to attack.

Alak Biswas, additional superintendent of police (special branch) of the Cox’s Bazar district police, told TBS that a report on security concerns regarding the FSRU has been sent to the headquarters.

The wider power infrastructure, including the single point mooring (SPM) facility 16 km from Kaladia Char, also faces security risks. Plans for a third floating LNG terminal and an onshore terminal are expected to further expand existing security resources.

Zanendra Nath Sarker, chairman of Petrobangla, called for a comprehensive security plan involving the Navy, Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies.

He said a special task force was proposed to be formed to protect not only the FSRUs but also the wider energy facilities in the region, including the Matarbari Energy Hub.

Energy officials and operators said that as Bangladesh becomes increasingly dependent on LNG imports, swift action is needed to protect the FSRU and other vital offshore power facilities for the nation’s energy security.