Experts favour tapping potential of coal reserve to ensure energy security

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FE Report
Speakers at a roundtable Thursday underscored the necessity of tapping the potential of the country's coal reserve to ensure the energy security in the coming years.
They also favoured adopting a suitable mining method - be it open-pit or underground - for developing the country's coal mines considering the geological status as well as cost-effectiveness.
The Weekly Economic Times and the Daily Amar Desh organised jointly the roundtable on "Different aspects of Coal Policy," at the National Press Club (NPC) in the city.
NPC President and Editor of the Weekly Economic Times Shawkat Mahmud moderated the roundtable, while the Daily Amar Desh Editor Amanullah Kabir gave the vote of thanks.
Speaking at the roundtable, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Debapriya Bhattacharya said coal use is necessary to meet the country's development needs and ensure future energy security.
"We must reach a decision on coal use right now as we are now passing the high time to take a decision in this connection," he said.
The overall economic benefit from the coal mines should be the determinant factor for adopting the mining technology, he said.
"The royalty rate should be consistent with the international standard and export of coal from the coal mines should be in conformity with Bangladesh's needs," he added.
He, however, called for a study to be conducted by the government, within the shortest possible time, to assess perfectly the country's coal reserve potential and ensure its utilisation.
Former Petrobangla Director on Mines and Minerals Muinul Ahsan alleged that a vested quarter was doing politics over the country's coal sector.
Without justifying the economic benefit and the rate of recovery out of the open-pit coalmine the quarter is unfortunately opposing it, he added.
He said the country's Barapukuria coalmine where the government is spending around US$103 for extracting only one tonne of coal can be an example of what should be the appropriate coal miming method.
The recovery rate of coal from the underground Barapukuria coalmine is only around 5 per cent, whereas the recovery rate could be above 90 per cent if the open-pit mining method is adopted, said the former Petrobangla official.
Former Chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) Quamrul Islam Siddique said the government can initiate a dialogue with Asia Energy if it feels that a blunder was committed in the agreement signed with the UK-based company.
As the government has already signed an agreement with the Asia Energy regarding development of the Phulbari coalmine in Dinajpur it has now become obligatory to obey the agreement.
Otherwise, the government might face a lawsuit worth billions of US dollars, he cautioned.
Dhaka University's Finance Department teacher SM Mahfuzur Rahman presented the keynote paper of the roundtable.