Govt moves to save Tk 22,000 crore by restarting fertiliser factories
BCIC Chairman Babul Miah. Photo: Taken from video stream.
Amid Middle East crisis and high oil prices, the government aims to cut the import cost of urea fertiliser by resuming production at all fertiliser factories across the country.
Restarting the plants could save at least Tk 22,000 crore, said Mohammad Babul Mia, chairman of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC).
He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon while responding to questions from journalists after inspecting the Ashuganj Fertiliser Factory.
The Ashuganj Fertiliser Factory has remained shut since March 1 last year due to a gas shortage. However, the BCIC chairman expressed hope that production at the factory could resume this year once gas supplies are restored.
Chairman Babul Mia said, “We want to bring BCIC's factories back into operation. We have to import 2.6 to 2.7 million metric tonnes of urea fertiliser. If the factories remain operational and we receive an adequate gas supply, we will be able to meet domestic demand and even export fertiliser.”
He said the main problem was the gas shortage. “However, we want to restart the factories by ensuring gas supplies. We are working towards that goal. If we can bring the factories back into operation, we will no longer need to import fertiliser,” he added.
BCIC Chairman Babul Mia was accompanied during the visit by Ashuganj Fertiliser Factory Managing Director Sheikh Mohammad Ali Ashraf, Deputy General Manager (Administration) Tajul Islam and other factory officials.
