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Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC, the country’s largest state-owned gas distributor, is set to begin installing smart prepaid gas meters in the second half of 2026, aiming to improve efficiency and curb system losses.
The initiative will see the deployment of 1.75 million smart prepaid meters across Titas-controlled areas, replacing older prepaid models. Unlike traditional prepaid meters that require users to visit vending stations for top-ups, the new smart meters will allow users to recharge remotely using smartphones.
“This is the biggest advantage of smart prepaid meters,” said Shahnewaj Parvez, Managing Director of Titas Gas, which serves over 2.878 million consumers and holds a 55% share of the national gas distribution market.
The upcoming project is jointly financed by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Of the 1.75 million meters, 1.1 million will be funded under the World Bank’s Gas Sector Efficiency and Carbon Abatement Project, while the remaining 650,000 will be financed through the ADB’s Smart Metering Energy Efficiency Improvement Project.
Titas signed the loan agreements with both institutions in November 2023. Installation works are expected to begin in phases after finalizing project planning and consultancy.
Project implementation will be overseen by two Project Management Consultants (PMCs). Development & Technical Consultant Limited (DTCL), a local firm, has already been appointed under the World Bank-financed portion. The selection of a second PMC for the ADB-funded component is currently underway after a previous selection was canceled due to irregularities in the tendering process.
“The PMC plays a critical role in planning, designing, and supervising all technical and implementation aspects of the project,” the Titas MD noted.
Titas has already installed approximately 420,000 conventional prepaid meters over the past decade, primarily in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Narsingdi, with support from the Japanese donor agency JICA. However, those meters lacked smart capabilities.
Under the new plan, smart prepaid meters funded by the World Bank will be installed in Dhaka South and Narayanganj, while those funded by the ADB will be placed in Dhaka North and Gazipur.
The shift to smart technology is part of the government’s broader effort to reduce Titas Gas’s system loss, which currently stands at around 7%. Company officials estimate this loss results in financial damage of Tk 150–180 crore per month—amounting to up to Tk 2,160 crore annually.
As the oldest and largest gas distributor in the country by coverage and sales volume, Titas operates in Dhaka, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Narsingdi, and Mymensingh. The company’s clientele includes more than 2.85 million households, over 12,000 commercial users, more than 5,400 industries, and nearly 400 CNG stations.
During the 2021–23 fiscal years, Titas sold around 14,459 million cubic metres of gas, generating revenue of Tk 26,387 crore.
