Sylhet Bureau :
The largest state-owned fertiliser factory in Sylhet, Shahjalal Fertilizer Company Limited (SFCL), has ceased production for four months now, caused by a gas shortage.
The production halt costs the government approximately TK 45 million (Tk 4.5 crore) daily. Neither factory authorities, nor the government, are able to provide any specific date till Monday, for when production will resume.
The SFCL requires 45 million cubic feet of gas daily for fertilizer production. However, gas supply to the factory was cut off on March 12th due to shortages, forcing production to halt.
Over the past four months, the government has incurred a loss of Tk 5.24 billion (Tk 523.6 crore) due to this shutdown, claim factory sources. There is also a growing concern about the factory’s machinery gathering rust and becoming inoperative, due to the prolonged inactivity.
Several workers at the factory mentioned that it briefly reopened for two days a month ago, but production was halted again due to machinery issues arising from the extended shutdown.
Raju Ahmed Munna, the General Secretary of the Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory Workers and Employees Union told that production at the factory has been suspended due to the gas crisis. The prolonged shutdown has left the workers and employees in despair, particularly those who rely on daily wages.
He further added that Fenchuganj is only 25 kilometres away from Sylhet, where gas has been found in Kailashtila, with a daily extraction of 21 million cubic feet. Despite the availability of gas in Sylhet, the country’s largest urea fertilizer factory remains closed.
Repeated attempts to contact Gopal Chandra Ghosh, the Managing Director of Shahjalal Fertilizer Company, for comments on this issue were unsuccessful.
Ashfakul Islam Sabbir, the Upazila Parishad Chairman, commented that the suspension of natural gas supply, the primary raw material for fertilizer production, has halted production at the factory. This poses a risk to the factory’s various chemicals, catalysts, and advanced machinery.
