Govt to renovate state-run sugar, fertiliser mills

The decision was taken at a meeting between Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman and Industries Minister Matiur Rahman Nizami at the Finance Ministry conference room yesterday.

The meeting discussed the progress of different development programmes undertaken by the Industries Ministry.

After the meeting, Saifur Rahman told journalists that out of the six urea fertiliser factories and 14 sugar mills, four fertiliser factories and four or five sugar mills would be brought under the renovation programme.

"Our fertiliser factories have become old. These need renovation as we cannot restore those permanently," he said.

The minister said that Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited (CUFL), Zia Fertiliser Company Ltd., Ashuganj, Urea Fertiliser Factory Ltd. (UFFL), Ghorashal, and Natural Gas Fertiliser Factory (NGFF), Fenchuganj, would come under the renovation programme.

He said the NGFF remained closed for 12 years. "After assuming power, we resumed production after repairing the factory and now we are getting around 98,000 metric tons of fertiliser from the factory."

All six urea fertiliser factories would be renovated gradually, the Finance Minister said, adding: "We'll renovate and repair these factories whatever may be the cost."

He underscored the need for increasing use of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) instead of urea fertiliser.

"DAP is most effective and important fertiliser. The world now use the mixed fertiliser limiting the use of urea fertiliser," Saifur Rahman said. "We'll discourage the use of urea in the country as it is harmful for land, water and the environment."

The country used 37.54 lakh metric tons of fertiliser, including 25.23 lakh metric tons of urea and 1.40 lakh metric tons of DAP, in the fiscal 2004-05.

About the sugar mills, the Finance Minister said the sugar mills of the country have reached a forlorn state.

He said sugar is being used as fuel in different countries and some of the countries produce methanol from sugar. This is why sugar is becoming scarce on the international market.