Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL) has resumed urea production after remaining shut for nearly six months because of gas shortages and technical problems. The state-owned fertilizer producer restarted operations on Tuesday after receiving sufficient gas supplies.
The CUFL urea plant restart began in the morning, with engineers gradually bringing the ammonia plant back online before activating equipment at the urea production unit.
CUFL resumes urea production after gas supply restored
Uttam Chowdhury, deputy general manager of CUFL’s production department, said initial production resumed on Tuesday morning.
According to plant officials, gas supplies were received at the end of August. However, production could not restart immediately because several technical issues needed to be addressed.
The plant’s equipment was brought back into operation sequentially as engineers worked to restore the production process.
CUFL expects the facility to become fully operational and return to normal production by Wednesday.
CUFL urea plant requires up to 52 million cubic feet of gas daily
Gas availability remains critical for the operation of the CUFL urea plant.
Plant officials said CUFL requires approximately 48-52 million cubic feet of natural gas per day to operate at full capacity. Any significant decline in gas pressure or interruption in supply can force the fertilizer plant to suspend production.
The latest shutdown highlights the continuing challenges faced by Bangladesh’s domestic fertilizer industry, where gas availability has a direct impact on production.
Ageing equipment affects CUFL fertilizer production
CUFL has experienced repeated production disruptions over the years because of gas shortages and technical problems.
The plant was originally designed to produce around 1,700 tonnes of urea per day. However, its effective production capacity has declined over time as a result of ageing machinery, lower equipment efficiency and recurring interruptions in natural gas supplies.
The latest restart is therefore expected to provide some relief to Bangladesh’s domestic fertilizer supply, although the plant’s long-term production performance will depend on reliable gas availability and the condition of its equipment.
CUFL plays key role in Bangladesh fertilizer supply
CUFL is one of Bangladesh’s important domestic urea producers. Extended shutdowns at major fertilizer plants can increase pressure on the country’s fertilizer supply system and raise the need for imports to meet agricultural demand.
The resumption of production comes as Bangladesh continues to manage the challenges associated with securing adequate fertilizer supplies for farmers.
Maintaining stable gas supplies will remain important for CUFL to sustain production and reduce the frequency of unplanned shutdowns.
Outlook for CUFL urea production
The restart of CUFL marks an important step toward restoring domestic fertilizer production after the plant’s prolonged shutdown.
However, the plant’s ageing equipment and dependence on a stable natural gas supply remain key operational challenges. A sustained return to production could help strengthen Bangladesh’s domestic urea supply and reduce pressure on the fertilizer import market.
