The policy planners of the energy sector are inclined to opt for open pit mining for extracting coal from different coalfields especially from Barapukuria and Phulbari, according to the source.
The coal reserves in Barapukuria and Phulbari have been estimated at 390 million and 572 million tonnes respectively. The availability of coal structure starts at a depth of 118 meter, which goes deepen into 503 meter in Barapukuria. The coal structure in Phulbari starts at a depth of 150 meter, which ends at 250-270 meter depth. The coal structure at a depth of 300 meter is suitable for open pit mining and above 300 meter is suitable for underground mining, according to the mining engineer and the geologist.
It was told that the open pit method could be applied to 80 per cent command area of Barapukuria coalfield and the entire area of Phulbari coalfield could be put under the open pit operation.
The issue of mining method came up at a recently held meeting of the national coal policy. Almost all the speakers expressed their opinion in favour of open cut mining.
Talking to The News Today state minister for energy Mohammed Enamul Haque said that the opinion has been given in favour of open cut mining. He said that the underground mining method would not be economical because only 15 per cent coal could be extracted by applying this method. But 90 per cent coal could be extracted by applying the open cut mining method. “We can’t ignore the economical justification of the mining method”, the state minister said.
The state minister, however, said that social and environmental implications of the open cut and the underground methods are huge. But implications of the open cut mining could be assessed earlier and necessary remedial measures could be taken beforehand, which would not be possible in case of the underground mining.
Sources in the energy division said that explaining the whole spectrum of the mining method a presentation was made before the Prime Minister (PM) recently. The PM also acknowledges economic aspect of the mining method but emphasised on addressing the social and environmental implications.
It was also learnt that the government would start a pilot project in Barapukuria coalfield for extracting coal by applying the open cut mining.
Meanwhile the website of the GCM Plc., mother company of the Asian Energy, said that a fruitful dialogue between Bangladesh Government and the GCM has been going on regarding the implementation of the development plan of Phulbari coalfield. According to the negotiation the GCM mobilised around US$30 million in cash to finance the implementation of the development plan of Phulbari coalfield.
The website also revealed that the Prime Minister’s Energy Adviser, state minister for energy, state minister of environment ministry and the state minister for land paid a visit to a coal field at Cologne Germany to see for themselves about different aspects of open cut mining. The GCM arranged such a visit. The state minister for energy admitted about their visit to a coalfield at Cologne where open cut method is applied.