Coal India (CIL) has initiated talks with Barapukuria Coal Mining Company (BCMC) to help it explore coal mines as well as set up new projects, according to a report by Business Standard of India.
BCMC is a subsidiary of the Bangladesh government-owned Petrobangla, with extremely limited mining capability, said the reportd. It is Bangladesh's sole coal producer.
"We have visited Bangladesh and spoken to this company's as well as Petrobangla's top executives. We have asked them to revert with some geological data," a senior Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) executive said.
CMPDI is the technical subsidiary of CIL responsible for this project.
However, the official said that CIL was not interested in participating in a tender to bag an exploration contract and would be interested only if BCMC signs up with Coal India on a nomination basis.
Talks for an Indo-Bangladesh collaboration on coal exploration and mining at Barapukuria, Khalashpir and Jamalganj areas in Bangladesh was initiated at the ministerial level, and Bangladesh wanted Coal India to participate in a tender for exploration of coal fields and the feasibility of mining thereof.
"So far, more geological data on these areas is required to understand feasibility of any mining project," the executive said.
Meanwhile, firms in the US, Germany, and Australia have bagged crucial exploration and feasibility contracts from Bangladesh.
BCMC has signed a contract with US-based John T. Boyd Company together with a local partner for a feasibility study on extension of existing underground mining operation of Barapukuria coal mine towards the southern and the northern side of the basin.
Another contract for a feasibility study for development of Dighipara coalfield at Dinajpur has been bagged by a consortium of German firms - MIBRAG Consulting International GmbH and FUGRO Consult GmbH, and Germany & Australia-based Runge Pincock Minarco.
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