Black Gold: Is it calculated apathy?
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Enayet Rasul Bhuiyan
MILLIONS of tonnes of valuable minerals in the sea beaches of Bangladesh known as "Black Gold" have been getting uselessly washed into the sea. Black gold is a mixed component of various minerals in the sands of the beaches -- zircon, elmenite, rutile, garnet, magnetite, monazite etc., found in large quantities in Cox's Bazar, Teknaf, Inani, Moheskhali, Nijhum Dwip, Kuakata and some of the other coastal areas of Bangladesh.
The knowledge of the presence of these high value minerals with application in the nuclear industry, aviation industry, paint industry, nuclear research and other high tech industries, have been with our experts even before the independence of the country. Among the countries of the world, only Australia and a few other countries have significant deposits of the same. Australia in particular has been earning a hefty sum annually from exporting them. Bangladesh possibly has more deposits of these mineral sands with richer contents. The yields after separation would be also very likely better in case of Bangladesh than Australia. Very recently the International Titanium Company of Australia in a report submitted to the Government of Bangladesh stated that rutile and zircon can be extracted from the sea beach sands of Bangladesh at a rate of 2.49 per cent and 0.46 per cent respectively which is highest in the world. The company has applied to the Government of Bangladesh for grant of a mining lease licence for extraction of minerals at Cox's Bazar sea beach.
According to press reports, the proposal was sent back to this Australian company with further queries about royalties to be offered, the likely effects of extraction on the environment, etc. But the all important question is whether the foreign company should be at all allowed to grab these very valuable national resources on the plea that it would invest for harnessing the resources sparing Bangladesh from this need.
Experts in the country say that investments and expertise needed for extraction are all very much there within the means of Bangladesh. Therefore, it would make much greater sense for Bangladesh if it goes for extraction and export all by itself. In that case, it would be receiving the net gains in billions of dollars whereas getting only some royalty from a foreign company would be a pittance by comparison. Besides, it would have to cede authority to that company about methods of harnessing and other matters which might not be in its best interests.
The mineral sands were first discovered by Bangladesh's eminent scientist Kudrat-e-Khuda in 1950. The Pakistan government carried out exploration activities and proved the existence of these minerals in substantial quantities soon afterwards. In 1975, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) confirmed again the existence of these minerals and after some years set up a pilot plant to extract these minerals from the sands. The activities of the pilot plant were a total success as it led to successful separation of the various minerals from the sands on a commercially feasible basis. Thus, all factors meaning the knowledge of the extent of these deposits, the ways for their preservation and, more importantly, their harnessing on a viable and sustainable basis, had been all there with Bangladesh authorities for a long time. Thus, the question poses very big in the minds of all concerned : why no determined move has been made for nearly three decades to actually start the harnessing of these minerals by the state authorities. Does it reflect the traditional sloth of the government or is it part of calculated apathy to lay the grounds for the takeover of these valuable resources by foreign companies ?
The news comes as a very disturbing one indeed that moves are afoot or at least have been initiated by a foreign quarter to lay its hands, very cheap, on these highly valued resources of Bangladesh. So far, vested interests behind the wings have been quite adept in frustrating the goal of utilising black gold by the country's own abilities. They have been able to successfully stall the country's own endeavour to get the optimum benefits from exploiting these valuable beach sands minerals. If their designs have acquired a fresh stimulus, then concerned ones in the country need to close ranks and raise a hue and cry against the same before the misdeed is done.
MILLIONS of tonnes of valuable minerals in the sea beaches of Bangladesh known as "Black Gold" have been getting uselessly washed into the sea. Black gold is a mixed component of various minerals in the sands of the beaches -- zircon, elmenite, rutile, garnet, magnetite, monazite etc., found in large quantities in Cox's Bazar, Teknaf, Inani, Moheskhali, Nijhum Dwip, Kuakata and some of the other coastal areas of Bangladesh.
The knowledge of the presence of these high value minerals with application in the nuclear industry, aviation industry, paint industry, nuclear research and other high tech industries, have been with our experts even before the independence of the country. Among the countries of the world, only Australia and a few other countries have significant deposits of the same. Australia in particular has been earning a hefty sum annually from exporting them. Bangladesh possibly has more deposits of these mineral sands with richer contents. The yields after separation would be also very likely better in case of Bangladesh than Australia. Very recently the International Titanium Company of Australia in a report submitted to the Government of Bangladesh stated that rutile and zircon can be extracted from the sea beach sands of Bangladesh at a rate of 2.49 per cent and 0.46 per cent respectively which is highest in the world. The company has applied to the Government of Bangladesh for grant of a mining lease licence for extraction of minerals at Cox's Bazar sea beach.
According to press reports, the proposal was sent back to this Australian company with further queries about royalties to be offered, the likely effects of extraction on the environment, etc. But the all important question is whether the foreign company should be at all allowed to grab these very valuable national resources on the plea that it would invest for harnessing the resources sparing Bangladesh from this need.
Experts in the country say that investments and expertise needed for extraction are all very much there within the means of Bangladesh. Therefore, it would make much greater sense for Bangladesh if it goes for extraction and export all by itself. In that case, it would be receiving the net gains in billions of dollars whereas getting only some royalty from a foreign company would be a pittance by comparison. Besides, it would have to cede authority to that company about methods of harnessing and other matters which might not be in its best interests.
The mineral sands were first discovered by Bangladesh's eminent scientist Kudrat-e-Khuda in 1950. The Pakistan government carried out exploration activities and proved the existence of these minerals in substantial quantities soon afterwards. In 1975, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) confirmed again the existence of these minerals and after some years set up a pilot plant to extract these minerals from the sands. The activities of the pilot plant were a total success as it led to successful separation of the various minerals from the sands on a commercially feasible basis. Thus, all factors meaning the knowledge of the extent of these deposits, the ways for their preservation and, more importantly, their harnessing on a viable and sustainable basis, had been all there with Bangladesh authorities for a long time. Thus, the question poses very big in the minds of all concerned : why no determined move has been made for nearly three decades to actually start the harnessing of these minerals by the state authorities. Does it reflect the traditional sloth of the government or is it part of calculated apathy to lay the grounds for the takeover of these valuable resources by foreign companies ?
The news comes as a very disturbing one indeed that moves are afoot or at least have been initiated by a foreign quarter to lay its hands, very cheap, on these highly valued resources of Bangladesh. So far, vested interests behind the wings have been quite adept in frustrating the goal of utilising black gold by the country's own abilities. They have been able to successfully stall the country's own endeavour to get the optimum benefits from exploiting these valuable beach sands minerals. If their designs have acquired a fresh stimulus, then concerned ones in the country need to close ranks and raise a hue and cry against the same before the misdeed is done.