Chevron and Qatar Gas have sent urgent letters to Bangladesh's Ministry of Energy, demanding the immediate payment of a total of $370 million for gas sales. Of this amount, Chevron is owed $220 million, while Qatar Gas claims $150 million for LNG deliveries under long-term contracts.

On Thursday, Chevron, the American multinational energy company, sent a letter to the Energy Division requesting the settlement of its outstanding dues. The letter specifically called for the immediate payment of at least $75 million, as part of the larger $220 million debt. This amount includes both the price of the gas sold—$175 million—and $45 million in VAT and interest.

Similarly, Qatar Gas, the LNG supplier from Qatar, also sent a letter demanding the quick settlement of its $150 million outstanding balance for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) under long-term agreements with Bangladesh. These letters, requesting prompt payment, have been forwarded to Petrobangla, Bangladesh's national oil and gas company.

Confirming the receipt of these letters, Mohammad Saiful Islam, Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, stated that both Chevron and Qatar Gas have pressed for the immediate settlement of the outstanding payments. The Ministry is making efforts to clear some of the arrears by next week, with a particular emphasis on Qatar Gas’s payment.

Chevron, which provides over 60% of the country’s gas supply through its operations in three fields—Bibiyana, Jalalabad, and Moulvibazar—has been particularly insistent on receiving its payments quickly. Chevron’s international operation's Vice President, Frank Casulo, had visited Bangladesh in December to discuss the payment backlog with Prime Minister's Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

The Ministry of Energy is working on clearing these dues as quickly as possible, especially the urgent payments due to Qatar Gas, as failing to do so could disrupt the LNG supply. Petrobangla is committed to making payments on time under the Government-to-Government (G2G) framework; however, any delay could create significant risks for the country's energy security.

Petrobangla officials have confirmed that Chevron typically invoices $40 million per month for the gas it supplies to the national grid, and that several months’ worth of payments have been overdue. With the urgent need for these payments, both companies are pressing for rapid resolution to avoid any disruption in Bangladesh’s gas supply.

Bangladesh began importing LNG from Qatar Gas in April 2018 to address the domestic gas supply shortage. Under a long-term contract, Qatar Gas supplies roughly 40 LNG cargoes annually, with half of this year's supply already delivered.