Jamuna Fertiliser Company Ltd (JFCL), located in Tarakandi of Sarishabari upazila in Jamalpur, resumed its production on December 23, nearly two years after its closure.
The fertiliser factory was shut down on January 15 last year due to gas shortage. However, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd restored the gas connection to the factory on November 22.
According to sources, the authorities concerned decided to resume production after Titas restored gas supply to the factory. As the factory had remained closed for a long time, mechanical faults were detected. After fixing these faults, production finally resumed at the factory on Tuesday (December 23).
Sources said that gas pressure at the factory had been reduced since 15 January 2024 to keep production running at Ghorashal–Palash Urea Fertiliser Company. As a result, urea fertiliser production at JFCL came to a halt. With the restart of production, it will be possible to meet the demand for urea fertiliser in Jamalpur, Sherpur, Tangail, and 19 other districts in the northern region.
Factory officials said that if gas supply remains normal during the upcoming IRRI–Boro season, they could supply fertiliser as per the demand.
Fertiliser dealer Chan Mia Chanu said that around 2,500 dealers from 19 districts—including Jamalpur, Sherpur, Mymensingh, and Tangail—collect fertiliser from Jamuna Fertiliser Factory. Due to the shutdown, fertiliser shortage hit the command area.
Morshed Alam Talukdar, General Secretary of Workers and Employees Union, said, “Due to the long closure of the factory, workers and employees were going through a difficult situation. With the restart of production, a renewed sense of enthusiasm has returned among everyone.”
Delwar Hossain, General Manager (Administration) of the factory, said that production had been suspended due to the gas crisis. After restoring the gas connection and completing repairs of some machinery, the factory has resumed ammonia and urea production, he added.
However, he noted that gas pressure is still low. He expressed hope that production will increase if gas pressure is ensured.
Jamuna Fertiliser Factory, a plant under Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation, has been producing around 1,700 metric tons of urea daily since 1991. Due to reduced gas pressure and mechanical faults, current production has dropped to approximately 1,200 metric tons per day.
