Lithuania's Achema fertilizer plant partially resumes production owing to lower gas prices

VILNIUS. Nov 3 (Interfax) - Lithuania's Achema fertilizer plant, the largest producer of nitrogen fertilizer in the Baltic countries and the largest consumer of natural gas in Lithuania, has resumed production of fertilizers after a two-month break owing to reduced prices for natural gas on international markets.

"Operations have partly resumed as of 1 November Jolita Macelyte, head of communications at Achema, told Baltic News Service.

According to Birute Daskeviciene, chair of the enterprise's trade union, one ammonia production shop and one carbamide shop have currently restarted, and the rest of the shops are expected to resume work.

Owing to the sharp increase in natural gas prices, Achema suspended operations in September and planned not to operate until December or another date, depending on developments on the gas and fertilizer markets. Since September 1, the company has been producing only resins and industrial gases.