Brahmanbaria's Ashuganj Fertilizer Factory has started production of urea again. No new problems have arisen since the factory was restarted last Friday night. Earlier, its operations were closed for 9 and a half months due to repair and fuel shortages. At least three lakh tonnes of urea production, worth more than Tk 700 crore, has been disrupted during this period. After a long time, the workers have expressed satisfaction that the factory has returned to production.
It is reported that the authorities stopped production on March 1 this year for factory overhauling (replacement and repair of various parts including SNC boiler tubes). The target was to complete the work in 90 days and return to production. Repairs were completed on June 15 with the help of foreign engineers from Germany and Canada. However, due to a lack of necessary gas supply in the factory, the machines could not be started and verified. Finally, in mid-November, the Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Authority supplied the fuel to the production department of the factory. After that, the factory authorities started the process of starting to go into production. However various mechanical defects occur at different stages of urea production. By solving these problems, it was possible to start production of urea last Friday night.
Those concerned said that if the factory had operational, it would be possible to produce 1,000 to 1,150 tons of urea per day. Each tonne of urea is supplied to listed dealers at Tk 25,000. As a result, there has been a loss of Tk 725 crore in 9 and a half months due to the stoppage of production. Again, due to the closure of the factory, the workers working there were deprived of various financial benefits including overtime, and production bonuses.
Kabir Hossain, the general secretary of CBA of the factory, said that if the factory is closed, the production of a large amount of fertilizer is disrupted. This is the loss of the state and the people. At this time, we have been directly affected as the workers are deprived of various financial benefits.
The managing director of the factory, Sunil Chandra Das, said that the production of urea fertilizer started in the factory on Friday night. As of yesterday, there were no problems not seen in production.
ARS
