Pyongyang, November 17 (KCNA) -- The first-phase gasification process of the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex in South Hamgyong Province has been completed to start fertilizer production.

Workers, builders and supporters of the complex removed millions of cubic meters of old beddings in layers which had been cemented for scores of years. Then they swiftly finished the vast ground concrete tamping and simultaneously launched structural project and manufacture and assembling of equipment units.

They also perfectly made ultra-modern equipment units when they could not arrive and smoothly installed them and thus successfully finished very difficult and vast first-phase project in two and a half years which would have taken 10 odd years at an ordinary pace.

Its commissioning ceremony took place on Thursday.

Attending it were Choe Yong Rim, premier of the Cabinet, Jon Pyong Ho, director of its Political Bureau, Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Ri Mu Yong, vice-premier, Kwak Pom Gi, chief secretary of the South Hamgyong Provincial Committee of the WPK, leading officials of ministries and national institutions, officials of the province and relevant unites and employees, builders and helpers of the complex.

Kwak Pom Gi in his address said that the completion of the first-phase gasification project is a precious fruition of the patriotic devotion made by General Secretary Kim Jong Il translating into brilliant reality the behests of President Kim Il Sung.

The advantage of the independent national economy and the indomitable mental power of the Korean workers unboundedly loyal to the Party and the leader have been fully displayed in the course of building Juche-based fertilizer production processes, he said.

He urged all officials and employees to keep the new production process in full capacity and work fresh miracles and merits once again in the general offensive for pushing ahead with the construction of the second-phase gasification process.

Speakers expressed the resolve to fan up the torch of South Hamgyong Province and thus greatly contribute to the building of a rich and powerful country.