Production at JFCL stops again

Short supply of urea feared as low gas pressure hampers output

28 March 2010, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Tangail

Urea production in Jamuna Fertiliser Company Limited (JFCL) has remained suspended for the last three days due to technical glitches. Production at the country's largest urea producing factory halted on Friday midnight after a boiler leakage was detected at its ammonium plant, JFCL sources said. “Abnormal fluctuation of gas pressure is the cause behind the leakage. Production cannot resume till March 30,” said JFCL Managing Director Ahsanuzzaman. Earlier on two occasions during the current peak season, leakages in the sensitive costly machinery and equipment due to fluctuations of gas pressure resulted in production suspension, company sources said. Established in 1991, JFCL at Tarakandi in Sarishabari upazila of Jamalpur district supplies urea to 19 districts including four in greater Mymensingh region through its 1,823 dealers. Urea production at JFCL was suspended on several occasions in last two years due to technical glitches caused by abnormal fluctuations of gas pressure. The company produced a record 5,20,000 tonnes of urea in the financial year (FY) 2007-2008 against its normal capacity of 5,00,000 tonnes. However, as per installation, its production capacity is 1,700 tonnes a day or about 5,60,000 tonnes a year. As the company could not sustain the production of 2007-2008 FY due to low gas pressure since July 2008, it is unlikely to meet the production target of 3,85,000 tonnes in the current financial year. Company sources said 46MSCFD (370PSI) of natural gas is required as raw materials per day but the supply has been reduced to 30MSCFD (220PSI). They said 26.00kg/cm2 gas pressure is required to produce 1,700 tonnes of urea a day but JFCL cannot produce more than 900 tonnes with a gas pressure of 15.92kg/cm2 currently. Consequently, Jamuna Fertiliser Company Limited (JFCL) incurs a production loss of 800 tonnes of urea a day due to shortage of gas supply. Against the backdrop of low production in general and its present suspension at JFCL, farmers in the districts concerned are apprehending short supply of urea during the remaining one month of the peak boro paddy cultivation season. Earlier in last week, JFCL Managing Director Ahsanuzzaman told The Daily Star that the plant could be closed at any moment if it continues to run with such low gas pressure. Six fertiliser companies in the country can produce 20 lakh tonnes of urea a year against a total demand for 28 lakh tonnes.