Gas crisis shuts Jamuna Fertilizer factory again after just two days, supply fears grow

Production of urea fertiliser has stopped again at the Jamuna Fertilizer factory in Sarishabari, Jamalpur, because of a gas crisis. Production at the factory has been suspended from 5am on Sunday (25 October).

This shutdown is particularly frustrating because one of the country's leading fertiliser factories has stalled again only two days after returning to production following a long closure. Fazlul Haque, head of the factory's production department, confirmed the matter on Sunday afternoon.

Factory sources said the plant, which has a capacity to produce 1,700 metric tonnes of urea a day, had remained closed for seven straight months due to the gas crisis. Production resumed after it received a gas connection on 20 September.

But that restart did not last long either. On 7 October, production had to stop again because of a mechanical fault in the boiler plant. After repairs, production restarted on 23 October. Yet within just two days, the gas crisis shut it down once more. Gas to the factory is supplied by Titas Gas.

Fazlul Haque said uninterrupted production at the factory requires gas pressure of 42 to 43 PSI every day. As gas was not available as required, production was suspended from Sunday dawn. Production will resume once gas supply returns to normal, he said.

The Jamuna Fertilizer factory has a long history of shutdowns and restarts. Factory sources said production remained closed from January 2024 to November 2025 because of the gas crisis and mechanical faults. Production later resumed when gas pressure rose, but stopped again on 12 February this year due to another gas shortage.

Because of the long closures, mechanical and technical faults have appeared in various parts of the plant's machinery. Officials say this is hampering the achievement of production targets.

A vast region depends on this factory. Through 1,900 dealers listed with the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), the Jamuna factory supplies fertiliser to 21 districts, including Jamalpur, Sherpur, Mymensingh, Tangail and the northern region.

When the factory's production runs, fertiliser worth about Tk 200 crore is produced every month, with a profit of around Tk 60 crore. On the other hand, even when production is stopped, a gas bill of about Tk 6 crore has to be paid just to keep the plant operational, alongside other costs — meaning the expenses do not stop even when the factory does.

Those concerned fear that if production remains closed for a long time, a fertiliser crisis could emerge at the farmer level. That would risk disrupting agricultural production, with possible effects on markets and food supply.

All eyes are now on gas supply. The authorities say the factory will return to production as soon as Titas Gas supply normalises and the required pressure returns. But after repeated shutdowns of this kind, the biggest question is over a lasting solution.