Senior geologist of LionOre Australia Pty Ltd, Dr Raisuddin Ahmad, has termed Bangladesh’s coal sector a very promising one to accelerate the country’s national economy. Dr. Rais has been working in ‘Black Swan Nickle,’ mine in Carlgorlley, Australia, one of the deepest nickel mine in the world. Born in Narsingdi, Bangladesh, Dr. Rais has obtained his higher degree in geology and mineral industry in Bangladesh, USA and Australia. He was involved in teaching profession for long in Australia. Dr Raisuddin is also a former fellow of Australia’s number one ranking National University said, “Coal can be a useful and effective alternative source of energy to ensure the country’s future energy security and help developing the national economy.”
“But to utilize the country’s coal reserve potentials a bold decision and its immediate implementation are necessary,” Dr Raisuddin Ahmed further stated to Energy & Power Editor Mollah Amzad Hossain during his recent visit to Bangladesh. Following are the excerpts.
EP: Bangladesh has huge coal reserves. But the country is yet to tap its potentials. According to you what are the bottlenecks the country faces 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 and timely decisions. 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 especially in the case of social and environmental issues associated with coalmine development and immediate rectification is a must if a wrong is committed. An independent monitoring system can be considered involving eminent scientists, academicians of the country.
EP: How you see the prospect of coal sector in Bangladesh and how it can be utilized?
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 like USA, China, Germany and Australia. Despite having huge potentials Bangladesh has only one 250 MW coal-fired power plant, which is also struggling for regular supply shortages of coal due to application of wrong mining method in Barapukuria coalmine. The gas reserve of the country is depleting quickly with growing demand and Bangladesh doesn’t have any alternative other than immediate extraction and uses of its coal resources. The preferred option for Bangladesh would be to use coal for base load power generation and save valuable gas resource for other productive uses.
EP: By the way you mentioned about Barapukuria coal mine, what should be the appropriate mining method in Barapukuria?
RA: Geologic reality and economic consideration should come first for selecting mining method. It is very much site specific. In Bangladesh, the main challenge for underground mining is to maintain the subsurface water bearing Dupi Tila layer overlying the coal seams. It is also a challenge for open pit mining. Thick coal seam and unconsolidated overburden materials are also factors in safe and economic mining of the coal resource. Considering the overall geological structure and soil condition of Barapukuria coalmine I must say open pit mining method is most suitable for its mining.
EP: There is a controversy regarding selecting mining method for Phulbari Coal Field. Which method you suggest appropriate for Phulbari?
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. Mine dewatering will have significant impacts on underground water regime in the area. But there are well-tested mitigation measures in the world to minimize the impacts of dewatering. RWE Mine, Germany is a great example of efficient subsurface water management. Bangladesh must have to implement those mitigation measures and experiences to ensure availability of water to the affected communities. The local people who will loss their land and other assets for open-pit mining must have to be properly compensated. After coal extraction, the affected lands must have to be reclaimed and rehabilitated for productive uses and should consider returning back to the owner or their successors. The mining should be done in phases to ensure that huge numbers of local people do not need to be rehabilitated at once. The local people must be given proper employment and other opportunities to maintain their livelihood with better status than before.
EP: Bangladesh has several coalfields. 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. Provision should be kept in the contract with foreign companies to ensure employment of maximum number of Bangladeshi nationals. Arrangements should also be there so that local expertise develop seeing and experiencing the works of foreign companies.
Energy & Power
Date: 16 July 2008, Bangladesh
Link: http://www.ep-bd.com/
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