COAL EXTRACTION FROM NORTH BARAPUKURIA

Consultant hiring for feasibility study soon

The government plans to hire foreign consultants to conduct a detailed feasibility study on extracting coal from the northern flank of Barapukuria coal mine through open-pit mining, according to sources with the Energy Division under Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed Ministry officials to fast-track the feasibility study; revealed Energy Division officials, adding that the PM wants to start a pilot project there.
The government had earlier planned to extend open-pit mining with a view to maximising output from 627 acre land on the northern side of the mine. Presently, a 250 megawatt coal-fired power plant is operational at the mouth of the Barapukuria coal mine. Energy Division sources said that hitherto, The Institute of Water Modelling, a state-owned entity under Ministry of Water Resources, had conducted a water modeling and hydro-geological survey of the Barapukuria coal mine. As per the survey, nearly 344 million cubic metre of water will have to be pumped out for successful management of the mine. The survey further suggested that a detailed feasibility study be carried out.

Managing Director of Barapukuria Coal Mind Company Limited (BCMCL) M.D. Aminuzzaman told The Independent that as of now, they can extract only 4000-5000 metric ton of coal from the mine.
“If we extract coal from Barapukuria in this manner, it will take 300 years to finish off the coal deposit there. But ideally, a coal mine should last for not more than 30-35 years. For that, we need to increase our extraction rate up to 30,000-35,000 tons every day from the mine and we need to start extracting coal from the northern flank,” said Aminuzzaman. For that, a huge amount of water would have to be pumped out from the mine.
“We want to know how to manage such water during extraction. That is why, we need a detailed feasibility study there,” he said, adding that qualified foreign consultants would be hired for the job.
The Barapukuria mine was discovered in 1985, and coal extraction from under the ground through mineshaft began in 2005, after overcoming some hurdles.
Some 390 million ton coal reserves in the Barapukuria coal mine were found spread over an area of 668 hectare within the depth of 118 to 503 metre.
The BCMCL found coal reserves on the northern side of Barapukuria to be 135 million ton.

COAL EXTRACTION FROM NORTH BARAPUKURIA

Consultant hiring for feasibility study soon

The government plans to hire foreign consultants to conduct a detailed feasibility study on extracting coal from the northern flank of Barapukuria coal mine through open-pit mining, according to sources with the Energy Division under Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed Ministry officials to fast-track the feasibility study; revealed Energy Division officials, adding that the PM wants to start a pilot project there. The government had earlier planned to extend open-pit mining with a view to maximising output from 627 acre land on the northern side of the mine. Presently, a 250 megawatt coal-fired power plant is operational at the mouth of the Barapukuria coal mine. Energy Division sources said that hitherto, The Institute of Water Modelling, a state-owned entity under Ministry of Water Resources, had conducted a water modeling and hydro-geological survey of the Barapukuria coal mine. As per the survey, nearly 344 million cubic metre of water will have to be pumped out for successful management of the mine. The survey further suggested that a detailed feasibility study be carried out. Managing Director of Barapukuria Coal Mind Company Limited (BCMCL) M.D. Aminuzzaman told The Independent that as of now, they can extract only 4000-5000 metric ton of coal from the mine. If we extract coal from Barapukuria in this manner, it will take 300 years to finish off the coal deposit there. But ideally, a coal mine should last for not more than 30-35 years. For that, we need to increase our extraction rate up to 30,000-35,000 tons every day from the mine and we need to start extracting coal from the northern flank, said Aminuzzaman. For that, a huge amount of water would have to be pumped out from the mine. We want to know how to manage such water during extraction. That is why, we need a detailed feasibility study there, he said, adding that qualified foreign consultants would be hired for the job. The Barapukuria mine was discovered in 1985, and coal extraction from under the ground through mineshaft began in 2005, after overcoming some hurdles. Some 390 million ton coal reserves in the Barapukuria coal mine were found spread over an area of 668 hectare within the depth of 118 to 503 metre. The BCMCL found coal reserves on the northern side of Barapukuria to be 135 million ton.