Urea production resumes at Jamuna Fertilizer Factory
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Urea production has resumed at the Jamuna Fertilizer Factory in Sarishabari, Jamalpur after remaining shut for more than eight months due to a gas shortage. Granular urea production began at the factory at 3:10 am on Monday.
People associated with the factory said production had been suspended since January 15 due to the gas shortage. Titas Gas authorities resumed gas supply on September 20 and the factory began its startup operations at noon that day. However, production could not begin because the gas pressure was not sufficient.
They said nearly Tk 2.5 crore to Tk 3 crore worth of gas was used every day to carry out the startup operations even though production had not begun. They said this caused significant financial losses to the government.
Established in 1990, the Jamuna Fertilizer Factory began commercial production in 1991. The country's second largest fertilizer factory has a daily urea production capacity of 1,700 metric tons. However, due to mechanical limitations it can currently produce 1,200 to 1,400 metric tons of urea per day.
The factory plays an important role in supplying fertilizer to 21 districts in the northern region including Jamalpur, Sherpur, Mymensingh, Tangail and Rajbari.
Jamuna Fertilizer Factory Managing Director Afaz Uddin said, “Urea production has started. I express my gratitude to the prime minister, the local member of parliament, the chairman of BCIC and everyone concerned for their cooperation in resuming production.”
