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Production at the Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company (KAFCO) plant in Anwara, Chattogram, has been suspended again, just four months after operations resumed.
Production at the plant was halted at around 11am on Monday (September 7), following which gas supplies to the facility were significantly reduced.
KAFCO officials said the shutdown was due to scheduled maintenance, which is carried out at the plant every three years.
Officials of the Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd (KGDCL), which supplies gas to KAFCO, said the plant had been receiving 50 million cubic feet (mmcf) of gas daily. From 11am on Monday, the supply was reduced to 5.5 mmcf per day.
KGDCL Deputy General Manager (Distribution North) Engineer Mohammad Rafiq Khan said gas supplies to KAFCO had been reduced from Monday.
“The plant had been receiving 50 million cubic feet of gas daily. From 11am, the supply was reduced to 5.5 million cubic feet. Gas supply will be restored upon receiving instructions from the ministry,” he said.
KAFCO Chief of Personnel Faruk Ahmed said the plant requires maintenance every three years.
“Production has been suspended for maintenance. The plant will remain shut for around one to one-and-a-half months. It will resume operations after the maintenance is completed,” he said.
Earlier, KAFCO resumed production on May 1 after remaining shut for two months due to a gas supply disruption. Production has now been suspended again after four months of operation.