Experts’ body meets today
Saturday, 27 October 2007
FE Report
The expert committee designated to finalise the proposed National Coal Policy will sit today (Saturday) to discuss certain critical issues, especially operational authority and methods of mining, which have to be reflected in it.
Headed by former vice chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Abdul Matin Patwari, the 12-member committee is expected to discuss the country's long-term energy security while giving a final shape to the proposed policy, sources said.
The government wants to adopt the coal policy soon so that pending decisions on the multi-billion investment proposals for the development of coalmines in Bangladesh by foreign companies, including the Asia Energy and Tata Group, can be taken early.
At its previous meeting, the panel of experts had agreed in principle that the export of locally produced coal should not be allowed for the greater interest of the country's long-term energy security.
Rather, exports can only be allowed if surplus coal is available in the country, the committee viewed.
The committee is expected to fine-tune the proposed coal policy, keeping the option of mining methods - open pit or underground mining.
Previously, the high-profile body agreed that the decision regarding the mining method would be taken on the basis of the geographic and social condition, and also commercial viability of a particular mining project.
The last meeting of the committee also gave its opinion in favour of taking the overall mining development activities under the total authority of the government.
Since its formation on June 21, the committee has held a series of meetings, but it has not given the final touches to the policy.
Recently, members of the experts committee concluded a two-day site visit in the northern region and had extensive talks with stakeholders, sources said.
Officials at the Energy Division observed that the committee might require holding a few more meetings to finalise the draft coal policy.
They, however, indicated that the proposed policy could be adopted by the end of next month.
The draft coal policy, formulated by the energy division, has placed top priority on ensuring domestic energy security for at least 50 years and also kept the option of public sector investment in coalmine development.
The expert committee designated to finalise the proposed National Coal Policy will sit today (Saturday) to discuss certain critical issues, especially operational authority and methods of mining, which have to be reflected in it.
Headed by former vice chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Abdul Matin Patwari, the 12-member committee is expected to discuss the country's long-term energy security while giving a final shape to the proposed policy, sources said.
The government wants to adopt the coal policy soon so that pending decisions on the multi-billion investment proposals for the development of coalmines in Bangladesh by foreign companies, including the Asia Energy and Tata Group, can be taken early.
At its previous meeting, the panel of experts had agreed in principle that the export of locally produced coal should not be allowed for the greater interest of the country's long-term energy security.
Rather, exports can only be allowed if surplus coal is available in the country, the committee viewed.
The committee is expected to fine-tune the proposed coal policy, keeping the option of mining methods - open pit or underground mining.
Previously, the high-profile body agreed that the decision regarding the mining method would be taken on the basis of the geographic and social condition, and also commercial viability of a particular mining project.
The last meeting of the committee also gave its opinion in favour of taking the overall mining development activities under the total authority of the government.
Since its formation on June 21, the committee has held a series of meetings, but it has not given the final touches to the policy.
Recently, members of the experts committee concluded a two-day site visit in the northern region and had extensive talks with stakeholders, sources said.
Officials at the Energy Division observed that the committee might require holding a few more meetings to finalise the draft coal policy.
They, however, indicated that the proposed policy could be adopted by the end of next month.
The draft coal policy, formulated by the energy division, has placed top priority on ensuring domestic energy security for at least 50 years and also kept the option of public sector investment in coalmine development.