The experts group, formed to provide an opinion on how coal should be extracted from the discovered fields at Barapukuria North and Phulbari, has suggested that the government should follow open-pit mining to maximise gains. In its draft recommendation, the committee has prepared an extensive outline of the methodology of coal extraction from these two coal fields, saying that about 55 to 57 per cent coal can be extracted from these two fields, through under-ground mining, but, to generate more power and to meet the growing demand of energy in the country, open-pit mining is the best option.
Earlier, the energy ministry finalised a coal policy, recommending the formation of “Khoni-Bangla”, a management body to oversee country’s mineral resources, including coal, hard rock, and limestone.
The government had formed the 15-member committee last year, to finalise the much-discussed coal policy, which will seek to ensure the best use of coal as a source of energy, to extraction and development of coal resources. Mosharrof Hossain, the former chairmen of Petrobangla, was appointed the president of the committee.
After taking charge, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had asked the energy division to further review the draft coal policy, especially, the possible impact of mining on people and environment. The energy officials, at a meeting with the PM, recommended open-pit mining of the north side of the Barapukuria coalfield in Dinajpur, but, the PM said that she would not like to take any hurried decision on open-pit mining.
The draft also suggested that the government, before taking any decision on coal extraction method, should address the environment, water management, social and economical issues of the Barapukuria and Phulbari coal fields, in a proper manner.
According to Petrobangla, Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Ltd (BCMCL) has signed a deal with the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM), to conduct a feasibility study for open-pit mining.
Earlier, the energy ministry recommended acquiring around 3-3.5 sq. kms of land, for coal mining, after resettling people.
Barapukuria has reserves of around 389 million tonnes of coal. The hydro-geological study and underground water modelling for the northern part of Barapukuria, will be done in 12 months, a top official of Petrobangla told The Independent.
The study, over 2.81 sq. kms will assess impact on groundwater level due to de-watering, irrigation, supply of drinking and industrial water and find out possible remedial measures for underground sustainability, through different opinion studies, and recommend developing mine water management system.
There is a huge debate over coal extraction methods, among energy experts. A group of independent experts on expressed their concern over the proposed Phulbari open-pit coal mine project, because the mining operations could displace hundreds of thousands of people and lead to the violation of fundamental human rights.
The experts, in a press release, urged the Bangladesh government to ensure that any policy, concerning open-pit coal mining includes robust safeguards to protect human rights and not to proceed with the project.
The group, describing themselves as United Nations independent experts, representing different working fields and rights issues, warned that the project would displace vulnerable farming communities, and threaten the livelihoods of thousands more, by doing irreversible damage to water sources and ecosystems in the region.
A senior official, who is also the member of the committee, said that the draft copy of the proposed coal policy will soon submit their report to the government, suggesting the probable methods of coal extraction from the deposits in the country.
Asia Energy had, in October 2005, submitted a feasibility study to the government, to extract coal from the 572 million tonnes deposit at Phulbari through open-pit mining, over the next 36 years.
The Phulbari project was postponed and, on 26 August 2006, three demonstrators, who had taken part in a peaceful demonstration against the open-pit mining method, died.
Asia Energy subsequently changed its name to Global Coal Management, and continued working in the project.
Courtesy of The Independent
