Experts said that commercial extraction of the country's proven coal reserve is unlikely to start, at least within the next couple of years, despite the desperate national needs for use of this fossil fuel to generate electricity.
According to them, the government's target to generate 20,000 MW power by 2021 would be difficult to achieve without the use of coal, as the cost of petroleum oil as an alternative source of fuel for electricity generation, remains high.
A parliamentary standing committee on the ministry of energy recently made its recommendations in favour of open-pit mining for extraction of coal. However, the authorities concerned are still waiting for a detailed report from a newly-formed expert committee.
The 15 member expert committee, headed by former Petrobangla Chairman Mosharraf Hossain is expected to submit its detailed report, by February next.
However, a detailed study on various aspects including comparative problems and prospects of both open pit and underground mining, may take a longer time.
Bangladesh has five coal fields in the northern region, comprising Barapukuria, Phulbari, Khalaspur, Dighipara and Jamalganj with a total estimated reserve of more than 3.0 billion tonnes, officials of the ministry of power, energy, and mineral resources said.
The committee will consider the geological structure, depth, aquifer, financial and environmental impacts of the coalmines to recommend appropriate mining method for each of them, a senior energy ministry official said.
The committee will also estimate the expected financial loss to be faced by the people around the coalmines and subsequent compensation to be given to them by the government.
Prof. Mohammad Hussain Mansur chairman of Petrobangla told the FE that "To have details on various subjects and aspects, the committee may take more than the stipulated time.”
The Petrobangla chief said that "The authorities concerned will have to perform a huge task of removing and rehabilitating the affected people, even before the start of any mining operation.”
Prof. Mansur said that "Simultaneously, the authorities will also need to set up coal-fired power plants so that the extracted coal can be utilised; otherwise, there may be accidental fire causing an extensive damage.” He added that "Coal stocks often cause disasters by catching fire.”
He said preparations for coal mining, including rehabilitation of the affected people, setting up of power plants simultaneously, will be a tough task for an impoverished country like Bangladesh.
(Sourced from FE)
