Dhaka, March 7 -- As the Mideast crisis stokes concern about fuel security, Bangladesh's state-run energy corporation Petrobangla has requested an additional US$250-million loan guarantee from the World Bank to augment liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, officials say.

The fresh fund request would add up to an existing $350-million guarantee facility approved last year.

The total fund support from World Bank's concessional lending arm, IDA, would come to $600 million for the country's energy-security programme, Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) officials said Friday.

Bangladesh government's move is part of a strategic shift to stabilise energy supply as the raging Middle-East conflict might affect the energy security follow...