Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– The government has shut operations of four fertilizer factories to divert natural gas to power plants to boost electricity generation in ongoing summer.

The state-owned Petrobangla has stopped the supply of gas to Ashuganj Fertilizer Company Ltd (AFCL), Jamuna Fertilizer Company Ltd (JFCL), Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Ltd (CUFL) and Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Ltd (KAFCO), said a Petrobangla official.

Power plants are now getting an additional gas supply of around 200 million cubic feet daily (mmcfd) after the closure of the fertilizer factories, said an energy ministry official.

This is for the third time in three consecutive years the government has closed down operations of several fertilizer factories for smooth electricity generation during summer.

It had shut operations of the fertilizer factories during summer in 2009 and 2010, said the official.

Currently only three out of the total seven fertilizer factories remain operational in the country.

The operational state-owned fertilizer factories are Urea Fertiliser Factory Ltd (UFFL), Polash Urea Fertiliser Factory (PUFF) and Natural Gas Fertiliser Factory (NGFF).

BBN/SSR/AD-93Apr11-9:31 am (BST)