A report of the Institute of Water Modeling (IWM) finds open-pit mining in the Northern end of the Barapukuria coal mine and mining through tunnels in the Southern as feasible possible.
Following the report, the Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited (BCMCL) authorities have moved to prepare a full survey on open-pit with another survey underway for tunnel mining.
Data on ground water modeling shows, open-pit mining is possible in far north area of the mine with coal lying at low depth. Extracting 100 million tonne coals through open-pit is possible from there, according to IWM.
On the other hand, there is no alternative to tunnel mining to extract the coal burying at higher depth in the southern portion.
Recently, the government’s Energy Division held a meeting over the Barapukuria coal mine.
Extracting coal from the third layer is underway. But, geological complexities and technical limitations make extraction from fourth layer difficult. So, mining in south and north now necessary, officials concerned informed the meeting.
However, extracting coal remains stalled in the face of workers’ strike.
BCMCL Managing Director Habib Uddin Ahmed said, “The IMW report says open-pit mining would not affect water management of the mine. Following the report, Energy Division sat on how to start a full survey and issued order on the matter.”
We are taking preparation to conduct the survey,” Ahmed told Bangla Tribune.
Sources at Energy Division said that an agreement was signed on Aug 11 last year setting a target to extract 3.205 million tonnes in next four years.
To date, 658,000 metric tonnes coal have been extracted against the target. But, BCMCL told the government it can meet the deadline.
In 2011, a committee led by former Petrobangla chairman Mossarrrof Hossain said open-pit coal mining was possible in Boropukira. But, the government did not move forwarded with the committees’ report.
Later, IWM was tasked with identifying problems on water management through open-pit mining.
Analysts said 95 percent coal can be extracted in open-pit mining while 65 percent to 70 percent through tunnels.
Yet, taking decision after considering water management, rehabilitation and economic potential is necessary, they argued.
Geology Professor Badrul Alam of the Dhaka University said, “It should be tested. Decision can be taken, if it works. Decision should be made after considering everything.”
Citing availability of coal below 100 metre beneath the soil, BCMCL Managing Director Ahmed said, “This is a densely populated area and soil fertility is high here, which is a big challenge.”