The state-owned di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser plant in Chattogram is scheduled to restart operations on Saturday following a temporary halt caused by a shortage of ammonia.
Officials at the DAP Fertilizer Company Limited (DAPFCL), located in the Rangadia area of Anwara upazila, told BSS that the facility is ready to resume work now that the ammonia supply has been restored to normal levels.
Alamgir Jalil, the Manager (Administration) and Divisional Head of DAPFCL, confirmed that production is expected to be underway by Saturday at noon after the plant finishes stockpiling the necessary ammonia.
The factory was forced to stop production on 18 April after its existing reserves were exhausted.
Historically, the plant has relied on two neighbouring facilities – the Chattogram Urea Fertilizer Company Limited (CUFL) and Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO) – for its ammonia supply.
However, disruptions to the gas supply at both supplier plants led to the scarcity that grounded DAPFCL operations.
While CUFL has remained closed since 4 March, KAFCO was able to restart its operations on 2 May after its gas supply was reinstated on 1 May.
Faruk Ahmed, KAFCO’s chief of operations, noted that his plant is currently yielding roughly 1,800 metric tonnes of urea fertiliser every day, which ensures a consistent flow of ammonia to the DAP factory.
Operating under the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) and the Ministry of Industries, DAPFCL has been in commercial use since 2006.
The facility, which plays a critical role in providing balanced fertilisers for the nation’s farmers, houses two units – DAP-1 and DAP-2 – with a total daily capacity of 800 tonnes.
