Dhaka University Geology Department Professor Dr Badrul Imam has opined that Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) can be a good alternative source of gas while the country is plunged into a deep gas crisis.
He made the opinion at a seminar titled ‘Prospects of coal gasification’, held at the seminar hall of Petrobangla at Petrocenter in the city on Sunday.
UCG process entails controlled burning of coal in the mine from where gas is created and used as the fuel for power plants, Dr Imam said.
He said that apart from conventional extraction methods for coal, the unconventional extraction processes like UCG and Coal Bed Methane (CBM) could be a good source of energy in the country.
Citing example of various countries including Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa and India, Badrul Imam said these countries are now using the CMB method as it never affect the surrounding areas and produces gas to meet energy crisis.
He mentioned that the Jamalganj coal mine would be the best choice in getting gas using the CBM system.
On coal extraction using conventional processes like open pit mining and underground extraction, he said the north-western part of Barapukuria coal mine would be the best choice for open pit mining, as the prospects for open pit coal extraction are quite limited in
Bangladesh.
He said that geological factors, social factors and economic consideration allow very limited scope for Bangladesh to go for open pit coal mining.
The Dhaka University professor said that Germany and Australia could go for open pit mining, but Bangladesh cannot go for that system.
Prime minister’s energy advisor Tawfiq-e-Elahi, Energy Secretary M Mezbahuddin Ahmed, Petrobangla Chairman Dr Hossain Mansur , top officials of energy sector, academicians
and energy professionals were present.
In his speech, Tawfiq-e-Elahi said the final draft of the national coal policy would be published by the end of the year after taking advice from specialists in the field.
The government will explore all options to increase energy reserve to ensure country's energy security, he said.
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