Give highest priority to using coal resources
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Dewan Faruque Ahmed
Coal can be a very useful and effective source of energy to ensure Bangladesh's future energy security and help develop the national economy. But to utilise the country's coal reserve potential, a bold decision and its immediate implementation are necessary. Bangladesh has large coal reserves. But the country is yet to tap its potential. The government should be open, free from political considerations and come out of conservative approach. Appropriate decision should be taken without fear and adequate measures should be taken for its quick implementation.
The government must not make any further delay in taking a decision on coal sector development. Bangladesh is already lagging behind in utilising its coal resources. The global practice is that around 70-80 per cent of coal is used in coal-fired power plants in the coal-rich countries like the USA, China, Germany and Australia.
Despite having a large potential, Bangladesh has only one 250 MW coal-fired power plant, which is also struggling for supply shortages of coal due to application of wrong mining method in Barapukuria coalmine. The gas reserves of the country are depleting quickly with growing demand and Bangladesh doesn't have any alternative other than immediate extraction and use of its coal resources. The preferred option for Bangladesh would be to use coal for base-load power generation and save the valuable gas resource for other productive uses.
As currently Bangladesh has no expertise in coal-mining, initially one or two coalmines should be developed with assistance from foreign companies. Foreign companies can develop Bangladesh's coalmines under contracts. The remaining coalmines should be kept for local companies to develop. Manpower should be developed through necessary training.
Provision should be kept in the contract with foreign companies to ensure employment of a maximum number of Bangladeshi nationals. Arrangements should also be there so that local expertise can develop from observing and experiencing the working methods of foreign companies.
Coal can be a very useful and effective source of energy to ensure Bangladesh's future energy security and help develop the national economy. But to utilise the country's coal reserve potential, a bold decision and its immediate implementation are necessary. Bangladesh has large coal reserves. But the country is yet to tap its potential. The government should be open, free from political considerations and come out of conservative approach. Appropriate decision should be taken without fear and adequate measures should be taken for its quick implementation.
The government must not make any further delay in taking a decision on coal sector development. Bangladesh is already lagging behind in utilising its coal resources. The global practice is that around 70-80 per cent of coal is used in coal-fired power plants in the coal-rich countries like the USA, China, Germany and Australia.
Despite having a large potential, Bangladesh has only one 250 MW coal-fired power plant, which is also struggling for supply shortages of coal due to application of wrong mining method in Barapukuria coalmine. The gas reserves of the country are depleting quickly with growing demand and Bangladesh doesn't have any alternative other than immediate extraction and use of its coal resources. The preferred option for Bangladesh would be to use coal for base-load power generation and save the valuable gas resource for other productive uses.
As currently Bangladesh has no expertise in coal-mining, initially one or two coalmines should be developed with assistance from foreign companies. Foreign companies can develop Bangladesh's coalmines under contracts. The remaining coalmines should be kept for local companies to develop. Manpower should be developed through necessary training.
Provision should be kept in the contract with foreign companies to ensure employment of a maximum number of Bangladeshi nationals. Arrangements should also be there so that local expertise can develop from observing and experiencing the working methods of foreign companies.