The coal security can be described as availability and sustainable consumption to its fullest utility. Bangladesh has sufficient and proven reserve of coal especially in Northern parts of Bangladesh which is around 3 Billion Ton equivalents to heating capacity 37 TCF gas.Coal security and technology in Bangladesh
The several studies have proven that our locally reserved coking coal is much better and cheaper than imported coal
AKM ASaduzzaman Patwary
The coal security can be described as availability and sustainable consumption to its fullest utility. Bangladesh has sufficient and proven reserve of coal especially in Northern parts of Bangladesh which is around 3 Billion Ton equivalents to heating capacity 37 TCF gas.
In the wake of acute primary energy crisis, the demand of coal use became prevalent but coal could not be used up to the mark due to various reasons encountered including coal extraction technology. Stakeholders of coal use are tied up wide-range of controversies since ages from extraction to power generation technology. Bangladesh has so far only state-owned coal power project with capacity of 250 MW whereas 40% of global power generation is sourced from coal which accounts for 22% of Co2 emission.
Government envisioned power sector development for access to power of all citizens and economic graduation by 2021. Generation capacity will be 24000 MW and generation 12600 MW in line with this target. Of the targeted generation, about 4600 MW will be coal sourced power. In deed, we have witnessed a number of coal based thermal power projects undertaken by Government, PPP and Joint venture of Governments to achieve power generation target. The sustainable consumption of coal is another biggest challenge across the Country. Universally recognized UN SDG 2030 agenda has been recognized by the world to turn the planet into sustainable planet. Therefore, the sustainable power generation has exposed new challenges to energy and power scarce Bangladesh.
The India and Bangladesh Friendship coal power generation project Rampal is underway for 1320MW power in addition to 1200 MW coal power plant proposed in Matarbari, Pyara backed by JICA and three other power plant investment proposition in Coxsbazar, and Meghnaghat by Reliance and Adnani group, India. Proposed projects by Indian companies remain as promise with no further evident development since then.
The ongoing debate hovers around cost effectiveness and efficient technology for generation efficiency which rocks acute debate on whether proven, cost efficient and pollution controlling technology can be deployed for environment and human kind to great extent or not.
As the coal power technology has been shifting gradually with rapid advancement in terms of fuel consumption, ash discharge, contamination reduction and Sulphar intensity.
The most promising clean coal technology involves using the coal to make hydrogen from water, then burying the resultant carbon dioxide by-product and burning the hydrogen.
Much talked Rampal thermal power plant is so far the largest coal power generation project progressing despite huge criticism due to technology used and location it exists. On the other hand, Matarbari Coal project will use Ultra Super critical technology for maximum heating and minimum Co2 efficient technologies alongside other technology like IGCFS well-recognised. The Ultra super critical technology has performance variance across the countries with maximum 53 percent efficiency though other relatively efficient technology has evolved meanwhile. The Rampal Power plant seems using combined cycle of engine but they have not revealed the technology but different sources claimed it State-of-the-art technology. Rampal despite having negative EIA report and other impact study report has progressed, the pay back of this project may be uncountable in terms of human suffering and ecological imbalance augmented even though many foreign donor agencies pulled out their financing promise from this project. Establishing a clean power plant involves cost, however it is not invaluable as the Sundarban.
The following technologies have evolved in different time with varied performance across the world:
Fluidized Bed Combustion: Fluidized Bed Combustion (FBC) is a very flexible method of electricity production. FBC system improves the environmental impact of coal-based electricity, reducing SOx and NOx emissions by 90%. In fluidized bed combustion, coal is burned in a reactor comprised of a bed through which gas is fed to keep the fuel in a turbulent state. This improves combustion, heat transfer and recovery of waste.
Pulverized coal combustion systems: Producing electricity in coal power plants can take place in a number of ways with varying degrees of efficiency. In conventional coal-fired plants coal is first pulverized into a fine powder and then combusted at temperatures of between 13000C to 17000C. This Technology accounts for 97% of World Coal plants with more than 40 percent efficiency.
Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC): An alternative to achieve efficiency improvements in conventional pulverized coal-fired power stations is through the use of gasification technology. IGCC plants use a gasifier to convert coal (or other carbon-based materials) to syngas, which drives a combined cycle turbine. (IGCC) plant use coal and steam to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide (CO) from the coal then burned in a gas turbine with secondary steam turbine (combined cycle) to produce electricity. The efficiency level is maximum 55 percent in IGCC.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology can capture up to 90% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced from the use of fossil fuels in electricity generation and industrial processes, preventing the carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. Furthermore, the use of CCS with renewable biomass is one of the few carbon abatement technologies used in a carbon-negative mode actually taking CO2 out of the atmosphere.
If we compare heating efficiency of local and imported coal, the local coal are proven more efficient than imported coal with least environmental harm but imported coal may provide heating efficiency as expected to some extent but it may cost our ecology and environment due to low amount of dust particles in coking coal.
Of the three aforesaid technologies used in Coal power generation, The Combined gasification cycle and Ultra super critical technology may be more effective considering all aspects in coal power generation up until today though environmental efficient technology is on constant change. Though projects launching in Bangladesh are likely to concentrate ultra super critical technology, IGCC but FBC, FCC have been conventionally used in some other countries too.
The seventh five year plan aims to formulate a set of policies and guidelines including LNG policies, Gas allocation policy to implement the target of energy and power sector but no policy for coal extraction, use in line with target of 20000 MW coal based Power in Power Sector Master Plan (PSMP) which is actually looming the future of our local coal resource and encouraging external dependence. Many perceive the local coal basin extraction technology skeptical as coal based thermal power generation are being signed leaving indigenous extraction unresolved and uncertain for ages.
The several studies have proven that our locally reserved coking coal is much better and cheaper than imported coal however the proven technology matters. But the disagreement actually costs the mass people, tax payers and cause multiplier economic effects as concerns are mounting from diverse standpoints on extraction and environmental damage but this resource need to be used with balanced and minimum harm and maximum utility. If these unexplored, resources remain unaddressed, the foreign harmful coal intensity will devastate our potential coal industry and ecological balance in long run sparking upsetting climate change thwarts.
As the technology is on continuous change, the innovation and new technology need to be commensurate and environmentally and economically compatible. We should be firm deploying coal technology which is cost and environment efficient considering the end users tariff incidence and Environmental sanctity. The debate on choice of the technology is continuous process but we may choose any of those proven technologies without any further delay leaving the differences aside to start with. Amidst of debate on coal extraction, small scale of extraction on either mining technique can be applied later be finalized upon the success. Due to this severe delay and inadequate supply of coal, many local IPPs cant proceed private coal power projects as project remain pending.
It is really high time that we must address the challenges of technology deployment, environment and climate change issues, concerns of SDG 2030, cost competitiveness, consumers tariff so that sustainable energy and power led and Industry intensive economic development trajectory can be reached translating our economy a progressive economy.
The writer is Research Fellow, Head of RD, DCCI
