DHAKA, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh's gas crisis may persist for next one decade as there is no immediate option for addressing the problem -- neither through augmenting domestic production nor through import of the fuel, private news agency UNB reported Saturday.

    The report cited experts in the hydrocarbon industry as saying that the demand-supply gap will continuously be widening as the government failed to make a move in proper time considering the future situation.

    At present, the country produces about 1,700 million cubic feet (mmcf) of gas per day against a demand for 1,800 mmcf. The shortage is about 100 mmcf a day.

    The demand is growing at 8-10 percent per year while the output is not rising proportionately for constraints on the exploration side.

    The government has moved for holding 3rd-round gas-block bidding, but it takes at least 9 years to get gas from any block to be allocated through the latest bidding.

    Despite such a situation in view, the country does not have any dependable option to rapidly increase production to cope with the demand side, the report said.