Experts said that Bangladesh should adopt a mine specific method to extract coal to produce electricity as any single method might not suit all the mines in the country.
They said that the open pit mining method could suit mines in Boropukuria and Phulbari in Dinajpur to reap maximum economic benefits, while the underground mining could fit other fields.
Mr Tawfiq E Elahi Chowdhury, energy adviser to the prime minister, said that a panel is working to suggest mine-specific extraction strategies.
Their comments came at a roundtable Coal Mining Challenges in Bangladesh at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka. Energy & Power, a fortnightly magazine, organized the program to mark its 10th anniversary in publication.
High quality bituminous coal mines have been discovered at Khalashpir of Rangpur, Boropukuria, Phulbari and Jamalganj of Joypurhat in the north western zone of Bangladesh.
According to official estimates, the total reserve is around 2,797 million tonnes and the heat generation capacity is equivalent to about 37 trillion cubic feet of gas.
Of the five coal mines, Boropukuria began commercial production in 2005 and uses underground mining to extract 1 million tonnes of coal a year. The coal is used to run a 250 MW power plant.
Presenting a keynote paper, Dr Ajoy K Ghose, a mining expert and editor of the Indian Journal of Mines, Metals & Fuels, said coal's contribution to the future energy systems of Bangladesh would be vital. He added that but it is unfortunate that despite discovery of substantial good quality coal reserves in North West Bangladesh, development of the domestic coal reserves has been mired in controversy and political wrangling.
Dr Ghose supported the open pit mining method for the Phulbari coal mine.
Mr Badrul Imam, a geology professor at Dhaka University, said socio political problems, rather than technological, are holding back the country from taking a decision in coal extraction. He added that "The issue has become a football game for the country's two main political parties."
Mr Shubid Ali Bhuiyan chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the power, energy and mineral resources ministry said that Bangladesh would have to go for open pit mining for maximum extraction of the natural resources.
Mr AK Azad president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry said that Bangladesh must go for coal based power plants so that the country does not need to spend thousands of crores of taka on subsidies to run oil based electricity stations. He added that "There is no alternative to coal based power plants, whether we run them with internal resources or import coal from outside."
Mr Benu Gopal Dey, a member of the government-sponsored national coal extraction policy committee, said that the government would have to engage all stakeholders in every stage of the process to successfully extract coal.
Ms Nehal Uddin, a director of Bangladesh Geological Survey, said that the Fhulbari coal field should go for open pit mining as its geological structure will not support underground mining.
Mr Khandaker Saleq Sufi, an energy expert and an energy adviser to the Afghan government, said that the extraction method has to be mine specific. He suggested the government go for public private partnership in extracting coal from Phulbari.
Mr Annisul Huq, former president of FBCCI, said that politics is creating a problem in reaching a decision on coal extraction. He added that "The world is benefiting from coal."
Mr Md Mosharraf Hossain, a former chairman of Petrobangla, said that Boropukuria is an ideal place for open-pit mining and the country has to take a decision quickly.
Mr Yunus Akand, a former director of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, said that Bangladesh cannot afford to delay developing mines any longer, as the social and environmental costs for developing mines would be higher in the future. He also said the country should not worry about the challenges it will face in extracting mines as there are ways to manage them.
Mr Mushfiqur Rahman, who teaches part time at Jahangirnagar University, said that coal cannot be extracted with an open pit or underground method in all the mines. So, the debate over the mining should be solved.
Mr Mollah Amzad Hossain, editor of Energy & Power, presided over the roundtable.
Source - The Daily Star
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