CHITTAGONG: The government Friday suspended gas supply to Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company (KAFCO), the last fertilizer-manufacturing factory to lie down under a gas-rationing plan prepared to gear up power plants to tackle electricity shortages in the country.

With this, officials said, Petrobangla implemented cent-percent decision of the government by shutting down all fertilizer factories in a bid to boost power generation for catering high demand during Ramadan.

Earlier Wednesday, the state-run petroleum corporation, Petrobangla, and the newly formed Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) sent separate notices to the multinational fertilizer company, KAFCO, prior to switching off gas line.

The initiative was taken as part of government decision on closing gas-guzzling industries for diverting more gas to the power stations during the month of Ramadan.

Under the rationing plan to make do with the limited fuel, the government earlier suspended gas supply to Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Company limited.

KGDCL Managing Director Engineer Mohammad Sanwar Hossain said, "We sent the notice to KAFCO following the government decision."

He also informed that they would be able to supply more 42 million cubic feet of gas to the Rawjan Thermal Power Station.

PDB sources said the No. 1 unit of the 210-MW Rawjan Thermal Power Station, 150-MW Shikalbaha Peaking Power Plant and 60-MW Shikalbaha Power Station are now out of operation for lack of gas supply.


BDST: 1530 HRS, AUGUST 13, 2010