Ban on import of poor quality coal goes
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Doulot Akter Mala
The government has lifted the ban on importing non-eco-friendly coals --- ignoring criticism from environment
groups--- to meet growing demand in the brick kilns, steel mills and tea gardens.
The commerce ministry issued the order recently, paving the way for importing coals that contain more than one per cent sulphur from Indian state of Meghalaya following intense lobbying by the importers.
Officials said the government was "forced" to take the decision, as thousands of Bangladeshi factories rely on cheap coals --- having excessive sulphur quantity --- to bake bricks, process tea or melt steels.
The current 2006-9 import policy had imposed the ban on import of coal containing more than one per cent sulphur, as it is a key contributor to environmental pollution in the world.
But the order has been suspended several times in the past due to growing demand for the mineral in local factories. The validity of the last suspension order expired on June, 30, 2009.
In the last financial year the country imported one million tonnes of coal --- the entire amount was brought from Indian state of Meghalaya.
Officials said the government's earlier ban on importing substandard coal proved ineffective and detrimental to local businesses, as the traders were found reluctant to import quality minerals.
"The traders from Sylhet only import Meghalayan coal, which is cheap and can be shipped through river route. They don't import quality coals from Bihar or other countries because they are not cost effective," an official said.
He said the ban was imposed in an effort to foster local coal mining industry, but an apparent foot dragging by the policy makers led to the development of only one out of the country's six coal mines.
"The country has a substantial reserve of quality coal in Barapukuria that has sulphur below 1.0 per cent. But production from the mine is very erratic and insufficient," he added.
A failure to extract quality coal from other mines has forced the government to meet local demand through import during the last four-five years despite loud protests by the environmentalists, he said.
Coal policy is still hanging in the balance due to indecisiveness of government, he said adding, "We have nothing to do except allowing the import of cheap and substandard coal from India".
Indonesia and China has quality coal but import from these countries are expensive than India.
Dilwar Hossain, President of Sylhet Coal Importers Group, said import of Meghalayan coal is in the greater interest of the nation.
The government has lifted the ban on importing non-eco-friendly coals --- ignoring criticism from environment
groups--- to meet growing demand in the brick kilns, steel mills and tea gardens.
The commerce ministry issued the order recently, paving the way for importing coals that contain more than one per cent sulphur from Indian state of Meghalaya following intense lobbying by the importers.
Officials said the government was "forced" to take the decision, as thousands of Bangladeshi factories rely on cheap coals --- having excessive sulphur quantity --- to bake bricks, process tea or melt steels.
The current 2006-9 import policy had imposed the ban on import of coal containing more than one per cent sulphur, as it is a key contributor to environmental pollution in the world.
But the order has been suspended several times in the past due to growing demand for the mineral in local factories. The validity of the last suspension order expired on June, 30, 2009.
In the last financial year the country imported one million tonnes of coal --- the entire amount was brought from Indian state of Meghalaya.
Officials said the government's earlier ban on importing substandard coal proved ineffective and detrimental to local businesses, as the traders were found reluctant to import quality minerals.
"The traders from Sylhet only import Meghalayan coal, which is cheap and can be shipped through river route. They don't import quality coals from Bihar or other countries because they are not cost effective," an official said.
He said the ban was imposed in an effort to foster local coal mining industry, but an apparent foot dragging by the policy makers led to the development of only one out of the country's six coal mines.
"The country has a substantial reserve of quality coal in Barapukuria that has sulphur below 1.0 per cent. But production from the mine is very erratic and insufficient," he added.
A failure to extract quality coal from other mines has forced the government to meet local demand through import during the last four-five years despite loud protests by the environmentalists, he said.
Coal policy is still hanging in the balance due to indecisiveness of government, he said adding, "We have nothing to do except allowing the import of cheap and substandard coal from India".
Indonesia and China has quality coal but import from these countries are expensive than India.
Dilwar Hossain, President of Sylhet Coal Importers Group, said import of Meghalayan coal is in the greater interest of the nation.