Production at two major state-owned fertiliser plants in Chattogram’s Anwara Upazila has been suspended due to a shortage of natural gas, officials said on Thursday.
The factories - Chattogram Urea Fertiliser Limited (CUFL) and Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Limited (KAFCO) - stopped operations from Wednesday evening following instructions from the government as gas supply to the industrial sector was reduced amid a nationwide energy shortage.
CUFL Managing Director Mizanur Rahman confirmed that the plant had been temporarily shut down under government directives.
He said production would resume once gas supply returns to normal levels.
Officials at the factories said fertiliser manufacturing is heavily dependent on a steady supply of gas, and a drop in gas pressure makes it difficult to continue normal operations.
They added that operating the plants with insufficient gas pressure could damage machinery and other equipment.
“Since fertiliser production fully depends on gas, running the factories with low pressure could pose technical risks. For safety reasons and in compliance with government instructions, production has been suspended temporarily,” factory officials said.
Under normal conditions, CUFL produces around 1,100 to 1,200 metric tons of urea per day. KAFCO, another major fertiliser producer in the area, has a daily capacity of about 1,725 metric tons of urea and around 1,500 metric tons of ammonia.
With production halted, a considerable volume of fertiliser output from the two plants has been affected.
Meanwhile, the government has recently taken several initiatives to address the ongoing global energy challenges triggered by tensions in the Middle East. In a directive issued on Thursday, the Cabinet Division urged all government offices, autonomous bodies, statutory organisations and corporations to ensure prudent and economical use of electricity and energy.
Officials and employees have been instructed to avoid unnecessary consumption and adopt energy-saving practices to help manage the current crisis.
.jpg "LPG cylinder price reduced to Tk1,885 in Bangladesh")