Gas crisis: Urea production suspended at Ashuganj fertiliser factory

Urea production at Ashuganj fertiliser factory in Brahmanbaria has been suspended for an indefinite period due to gas crisis – just 38 days after the factory had resumed operation following a prolonged pause last year.

The factory authorities stopped fertiliser production as Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company discontinued gas supply last night (1 March), said factory sources.

Deputy Director General of Bakhrabad Gas Company Jahidur Reza said, "The gas supply to Ashuganj factory has been suspended as per a government decision. It's up to the government to decide when the gas supply will resume. Maybe there won't be any gas supply this season."

In 2024, fertiliser production at the Ashuganj factory remained suspended due to a halt in gas supply from 21 February to 14 November.

After a long agitation by workers of the factory, the Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited resumed gas supply on 15 November 2024 and fertiliser production resumed on 23 January this year, our correspondent reports.

According to Ashuganj fertiliser factory authorities, the factory is able to produce 1,150 tonnes of urea per day, and at least 48 million cubic feet gas is needed every day to keep the production normal.

But the factory authorities were failing to produce gas at full capacity despite the gas supply due to a lack of gas pressure. Eventually, Bakhrabad Gas Company halted gas supply on Saturday evening, which led to a suspension in fertiliser production at Ashuganj factory, said factory officials.

The director general (Operation) of Ashuganj factory said, "Fertiliser cannot be produced without gas. That's why fertiliser production at Ashuganj factory has been suspended. We cannot say for sure when the production will resume."