Technical Snag Halts Urea Production at RFCL

Karimnagar: Urea production at Ramagundam Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited (RFCL) has been halted following technical issues, raising concerns over supply during the ongoing kharif season.

The plant was shut down on Wednesday after leakages were detected in the ammonia pipeline, leading to suspension of operations. According to RFCL sources, production is expected to resume within a week after repairs are completed.

The disruption is likely to affect urea supply to farmers in Telangana and neighbouring states. With paddy being the predominant crop in north Telangana, urea remains a key input for cultivation. RFCL, the primary supplier of urea to the state, had a target of supplying 45,000 tonnes in July. However, only about 10,000 tonnes have been supplied so far.

Farmers, who have already prepared paddy nurseries and are awaiting rainfall, may face input shortages if the disruption continues. The plant has a daily production capacity of 3,859 metric tonnes of urea and 2,200 metric tonnes of ammonia, but has frequently fallen short of targets due to recurring technical issues. Its annual urea production capacity stands at 12.7 lakh metric tonnes, while output in 2025 was about 8.5 lakh metric tonnes.

Last year, the plant remained shut for 112 days, resulting in a production shortfall of around 3.5 lakh metric tonnes.

Sources said recurring problems with the Haldor Topsoe Heat Exchange Reformer (HTER), a key unit that converts natural gas into synthetic gas, have contributed to frequent shutdowns. The equipment has been sent to Mumbai for repairs and is expected to be reinstalled in August. Full-scale production is likely to resume after its reinstallation.