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The Energy Ministry is likely to send a letter next week to Niko Resources, the Canadian operator of Tangratila gas field, claiming compensation for two blowouts in the gas field, reports UNB.
Official sources said the ministry would place the compensation claim for burning out of 8.0 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas from the field and also damage to the environment in the field area by the two blowouts equivalent to Tk 840 million. The first blowout took place on January 7 and the second on June 24 this year.
Two separate inquiry committees, formed by the government, held Niko Resources solely responsible for the two blowouts and determined the losses accordingly.
The sources said the letter claiming compensation was sent Wednesday to the Ministry of Law for vetting and for its legal opinion on the matter before sending to Niko.
Energy Ministry officials expect they will get the letter back from the Ministry of Law with vetting and legal opinion within a day or two and then they will send it to Niko.
Meanwhile, the Global President and Chief Operating Officer of Niko, Edward S Sampson, met with Adviser of the Energy Ministry Mahmudur Rahman Tuesday.
The Niko chief gave a hint to the adviser that his company would rethink about its operation in Bangladesh if the government proceeds with any tough action like the compensation claim.
When his attention was drawn about the matter, Mahmudur Rahman said Wednesday he has no idea about any such plan of Niko.
When contacted over telephone Wednesday, Niko's president of Bangladesh operations Quasem Sharif, now in USA, declined to make any comment on the matter.
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