Petrobangla signs deal to develop Dighipara coalmine in Dinajpur
Monday, 22 December 2008
FE Report
The state-owned Petrobangla will develop the country's prospective Dighipara coalmine in northern Dinajpur having the proven coal reserve of 100 million tonnes.
An agreement to this effect was signed with the Bureau of Mineral Development (BMD) Sunday to develop the coalmine and initiate production to cope with the mounting demand for energy across the country.
"With this agreement Petrobangla officially got the authority to develop the Dighipara coalmine," Petrobangla chairman Jalal Ahmed told the FE.
A good number of companies, both local and foreign, sought to develop the coalmine in the country's mineral-rich northern region.
Apart from Petrobangla, the UK-based Asia Energy and the Korean Luxon Global and the local Hosaf Group also approached the BMD and sought licences to explore and develop the coalmine.
But the government decided in principle to entrust Petrobangla with the responsibility of developing the coalmine.
"We will discuss with our subsidiary companies including Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (BAPEX) and the Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) soon to decide the next course of action to develop the coalmine as soon as possible," the Petrobangla chairman said.
The company would utilise local expertise and also look for strategic partnership with foreign companies, if necessary, to develop the coalmine, he added.
A decision regarding the Dighipara coalmine development might come by January 15 next, he expressed the hope.
Adoption of the national coal policy, now remaining pending, would help develop the coalmine smoothly, the Petrobangla chairman said.
The state-owned GSB, the energy ministry arm to explore natural resources discovered the Dighipara coalmine having a reserve of bituminous coal during drilling in 1995-2004.
It struck coal at the depth between 323 metres and 408 metres having a thickness of 62 metres after digging five bore holes in the areas spanning 1.25 square kilometers.
The Dighipara coalmine has the proven reserve of 100 million tonnes of coal, the GSB statistics revealed.
But it has the potential coal reserves of around 500 million tonnes in an area spanning around five square kilometers, the GSB maintained.
The Dighipara coal contains high bituminous and low sulphur levels, the GSB sources said.
As of now, Bangladesh have six coalmines discovered at Barapukuria, Dighipara and Phulbari in Dinajpur district, Jamalganj and Kuchma in Bogra district and Khalaspir in Rangpur district.
Before Dighhipara, three more mines - Barapukuria, Phulbari and Khalashpir - were leased out to three separate companies.
The state-owned Petrobangla will develop the country's prospective Dighipara coalmine in northern Dinajpur having the proven coal reserve of 100 million tonnes.
An agreement to this effect was signed with the Bureau of Mineral Development (BMD) Sunday to develop the coalmine and initiate production to cope with the mounting demand for energy across the country.
"With this agreement Petrobangla officially got the authority to develop the Dighipara coalmine," Petrobangla chairman Jalal Ahmed told the FE.
A good number of companies, both local and foreign, sought to develop the coalmine in the country's mineral-rich northern region.
Apart from Petrobangla, the UK-based Asia Energy and the Korean Luxon Global and the local Hosaf Group also approached the BMD and sought licences to explore and develop the coalmine.
But the government decided in principle to entrust Petrobangla with the responsibility of developing the coalmine.
"We will discuss with our subsidiary companies including Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (BAPEX) and the Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) soon to decide the next course of action to develop the coalmine as soon as possible," the Petrobangla chairman said.
The company would utilise local expertise and also look for strategic partnership with foreign companies, if necessary, to develop the coalmine, he added.
A decision regarding the Dighipara coalmine development might come by January 15 next, he expressed the hope.
Adoption of the national coal policy, now remaining pending, would help develop the coalmine smoothly, the Petrobangla chairman said.
The state-owned GSB, the energy ministry arm to explore natural resources discovered the Dighipara coalmine having a reserve of bituminous coal during drilling in 1995-2004.
It struck coal at the depth between 323 metres and 408 metres having a thickness of 62 metres after digging five bore holes in the areas spanning 1.25 square kilometers.
The Dighipara coalmine has the proven reserve of 100 million tonnes of coal, the GSB statistics revealed.
But it has the potential coal reserves of around 500 million tonnes in an area spanning around five square kilometers, the GSB maintained.
The Dighipara coal contains high bituminous and low sulphur levels, the GSB sources said.
As of now, Bangladesh have six coalmines discovered at Barapukuria, Dighipara and Phulbari in Dinajpur district, Jamalganj and Kuchma in Bogra district and Khalaspir in Rangpur district.
Before Dighhipara, three more mines - Barapukuria, Phulbari and Khalashpir - were leased out to three separate companies.