Linde BD shuts big oxygen plant for two weeks 

The Linde Bangladesh Limited, an industrial and medical gas producer company in the country, has closed its oxygen production plant in Rupganj for two weeks.

Company sources said they have stopped its production plant – which produces 100 tonnes of oxygen per day - as motors went out of order.

Linde Bangladesh Limited, formerly known as Bangladesh Oxygen Ltd, produces 120-125 tonnes of medical and industrial gas per day in its two plants.

As its production unit is closed, the company is now carrying oxygen from its own plant in India to meet the demand in the pandemic situation.

The company did not disclose this information to shareholders even though the large plant is not in operation.

The multinational Linde Bangladesh Limited got listed on the share market in 1976.

The company holds about 80% of the medical and industrial gas market and it makes good profit too.

In the last fiscal year, the company made a profit of Tk123.14 crore, and its earnings per share (EPS) stood at Tk80.92. Shareholders got 500% in cash dividend this year and in the nine months of 2020, the company earned Tk72.77 crore.

Saiqa Mazed, head of Human Resources of Linde Bangladesh, told TBS, "Production has stopped in one plant as its motor remains out of order for more than two weeks. However, oxygen is being carried from India to meet the demand in the country."

When asked if there was any crisis in oxygen supply in the country, he said, "There has been no crisis so far. We are trying to resume operation as soon as possible."

Abu Mohammad Nisar, company secretary of Linde Bangladesh, said, "They did not inform shareholders about the large plant not in operation as they have no information from the top authorities."