C T Online Desk: After remaining closed for more than six months due to a gas crisis, state-run Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL) in Chattogram’s Anwara upazila resumed full-scale urea production early today.
CUFL Managing Director Mizanur Rahman said production restarted in the early hours on completion of all necessary startup procedures.
“With production back on track, the workers, officers, and staff are all very happy,” he said.
The plant had suspended operations on April 11 this year due to a severe gas shortage.
According to CUFL sources, when fully operational, the factory produces 1,100 tonnes of urea fertiliser daily. At an estimated market value of Tk 38,000 per tonne, this amounts to Tk 4.18 crore worth of fertiliser per day.
The shutdown over the past six and a half months resulted in an estimated production loss of around Tk 800 crore.
Established on October 29, 1987, with Japanese technical assistance, the factory is located on the south bank of the Karnaphuli river in Rangadia.
Officials said gas supply to CUFL resumed on October 19, paving the way for production to restart. For full-scale operation, the gas-dependent plant requires 48 to 52 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMCFD).
When it first began operations, CUFL had a daily production capacity of 1,700 tonnes and an annual capacity of 5.61 lakh tonnes. The current operational capacity stands at 1,100 tonnes per day.
