Abir Mahmud
Geologist of LionOre Australia Pty Ltd, one of the largest coalmines in Australia, Dr Raisuddin Ahmad has categorically termed Bangladesh's coal sector a very promising one to accelerate the country's national economy."Coal can be an useful and effective alternative source of energy to ensure the country's future energy security and help developing the national economy," Dr Raisuddin also a former fellow of Australia's number one ranking Australia National University said.But to utilize the country's coal reserve potentials a bold decision and its immediate implementation is necessary, Dr Raisuddin Ahmed told the Weekly Economic Times.Following are the excerpts of his interview given to the Weekly Economic Times when he visited Dhaka recently:
ET: Bangladesh has huge coal reserves. But the country is yet to tap its potentials. According to you what are the bottlenecks the country has and how it can be overcome?
RA: Bangladesh is now facing multifaceted problems like lack of necessary and realistic vision, policy-related complexities and weakness in taking appropriate decision.Overcoming these bottlenecks is intricate but not impossible. Firstly the government's vision needs to be changed. The government should be open, free from political confrontation and come out of conservative approach. Appropriate decision should be taken without fear and adequate measures should be taken for its quick implementation.The government must have to maintain strong monitoring and immediate rectification is a must if a wrong is committed.
ET: How you see the prospect of Bangladesh's coal sector and it can be utilised?
RA: Coal sector in Bangladesh is very promising. The government must not do any further delay in taking decision on coal sector development.Bangladesh is already lagging behind in utilizing coal resources. The global practice is that around 70-80 per cent of coal is used in coal-fired power plant in the coal-rich countries.Despite having huge potentials Bangladesh has only one coal-fired power plant at Barapkuria, which is also struggling in coal production due to application of wrong mining method.
ET: By the way as you mentioned about Barapukuria coal mine, what should be the appropriate mining method in Barapukuria?
RA: Considering the geological structure and soil condition of Barapkuria coalmine I must say open pit mining method is most suitable for its mining
ET: And for Phulbari coalmine which mining method is appropriate?
RA: As the geological structure and soil condition of Phulbari is similar to that of Barapukuria, the open-pit mining method would be a suitable option for getting the maximum benefit out of it.But the authorities concerned must have to be careful about pollution, degradation of environment to maintain a natural equilibrium.The local people who will have to sacrifice their land for open-pit mining method must have to be properly compensated. Their lands must have to be returned to them or their successors after filling of lands.The mining should be done in phase by phase to ensure that huge numbers of local people need not to be rehabilitated at once.The local people must be given proper employment to maintain their livelihood with better status than before.
ET: Bangladesh has several coalmines. According to you how Bangladesh can go ahead to develop those?
RA: As currently Bangladesh has no expertise in coalmining initially one or two coalmines should be developed with assistance from foreign companies.Foreign companies can develop Bangladesh coalmines under contracts.The remaining coalmines should be kept for local companies to develop. Manpower should be developed through necessary training.Arrangements should also be there so that local expertise develop seeing and experiencing the works of foreign companies.
Weekly Economic Times
22/06/08
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