The resumption came after all of the company's gas-carrying tube and cascade cylinder trailers were cleared to operate again, restoring gas transportation to industrial areas in Dhaka, Gazipur and nearby regions, a press release said.

The Department of Explosives recently allowed the vehicles to transport gas after completing technical inspections to assess their operational capability. As a result, Intraco has been able to fully resume operations that had remained largely suspended since November last year.

The development is being seen as significant for industries amid the country's ongoing gas crisis.

Department of Explosives Director General Mohammad Mohsin Uddin said the vehicles were tested at the laboratory of their Chinese manufacturer and found suitable for transporting gas. He said the disruption to production at many industrial factories due to the prolonged gas shortage was also taken into consideration while granting the approval.

Previously, Intraco collected gas from the state-owned Sundarban Gas Company and supplied it to various industrial establishments in Dhaka, Gazipur and Tangail.

However, the company's gas transportation operations came to a virtual halt in November last year after it was forced to withdraw 35 vehicles that did not have the required licences following an order from the Department of Explosives.

In July this year, licences were issued for 18 tube-trailer trucks carrying compressed gas. Last week, the remaining 20 cascade cylinder trailers were granted permission to transport gas for six months, enabling Intraco to resume operations at full capacity.

The tube and cascade cylinder trailers used by the company were manufactured by China's Enrich CNG, while Hartfast Stream Boiler inspected the equipment and issued certification.

As Bangladesh does not have facilities to test such specialised vehicles, a delegation comprising representatives from the Department of Explosives, Intraco and the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) visited China to inspect the manufacturer and certification provider.

Mohsin Uddin said the delegation was satisfied after the inspection that Intraco's vehicles were suitable for the safe transportation of gas. However, he added that amendments to the existing regulations would be required before permanent licences could be issued for the remaining 20 cascade cylinder trailers.

Intraco Company Secretary G.M. Salahuddin said that although the company was currently supplying less gas than market demand, it remained an important fuel supplier for industries located outside the national gas pipeline network.

Under a 10-year agreement with Sundarban Gas Company, Intraco supplies compressed gas to industrial establishments in Dhaka, Gazipur and Tangail.

Under the agreement, the company was initially expected to transport 5 million cubic feet of gas per day (5 MMscfd), with plans to gradually increase the volume to 25 million cubic feet per day (25 MMscfd). Before its operations were suspended, however, Intraco was transporting around 3.5 million cubic feet of gas daily.

Intraco purchases gas from Sundarban Gas Company at Tk17.10 per unit and sells compressed natural gas to industries at Tk47.60 per unit.

Under the supply process, Sundarban Gas Company extracts surplus gas from the Bhola gas fields. Intraco then compresses the gas and loads it into high-pressure cascade cylinder trailers for transportation to industrial areas.

After reaching its destination, a Regulating Control Unit (RCU) reduces the gas pressure from 1,000 PSI to 15 PSI, making it suitable for use in industrial boilers and power generation equipment.

Intraco was downgraded to the 'Z' category on the country's two stock exchanges in February this year due to a deterioration in its financial condition.