After being shut down for 13 months due to a gas crisis, the Jamuna Fertilizer Company Ltd, the second-largest urea producer in the country, has resumed production following the restoration of gas supply.
The factory officially restarted production on Friday with the firing process.
The confirmation came from Delwar Hossain, general manager (Administration) of Jamuna Fertilizer Company, in the afternoon.
According to factory sources, uninterrupted urea production at Jamuna Fertilizer Company requires a daily gas pressure of 42 to 43 PSI.
However, due to a shortage of gas supply from Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, which is responsible for supplying gas to the factory, pressure was reduced on January 15, 2024.
As a result, production came to a halt.
This closure left many workers, transport owners, drivers, small business owners, and hotel and restaurant operators in the surrounding areas unemployed.
During the shutdown, imported urea and fertilizers produced by other domestic factories were supplied to dealers. However, due to low demand among farmers, dealers faced difficulties.
Over the past year, several protests and demonstrations were held by factory workers and locals demanding the reopening of the plant.
Established in 1991 with a daily production capacity of 1,700 metric tons of fertilizer, the factory distributes its products to farmers across 162 upazilas in 21 districts, including Jamalpur, Sherpur, Tangail, and northern command areas, through 1,900 registered dealers under the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC).
However, in recent years, due to declining gas pressure and technical issues, daily production had dropped to 1,200 metric tons.
On Thursday night, after 13 months, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company restored gas supply to the factory, bringing back enthusiasm among factory officials and workers.
Shafiqul Islam, president of the Jamuna Fertilizer Company Workers' Union (CBA), said: “The people of this area are delighted that gas supply has been restored to the Jamuna Fertilizer Company. We sincerely thank the concerned authorities. Ensuring the uninterrupted operation of domestic industries instead of relying on imports will help boost national revenue.”
General Manager (Administration) Delwar Hossain further said: “Due to the gas crisis, urea production had been suspended since January 15 last year. On Thursday, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company resumed adequate gas supply. On Friday at 11am, we conducted the firing process in the production plant’s furnace, marking the official restart of fertilizer production.
"If there are no mechanical or technical issues and gas supply remains uninterrupted, it will take 10 to 12 days for full-scale production to resume,” he added.
