Worth its weight in gold. Photo: Yamin Tauseef Jahangir

Coal is called black gold or black diamond. 50% of the world's energy comes from coal. Bangladesh is facing an energy crisis because of reliance on natural gas, which is depleting fast, as the main source of energy.
Bangladesh had 15 tcf (trillion cubic foot) of proven reserve natural gas, of which the remaining 6 tcf may run out by 2015. As against this, the coal reserves in 5 fields -- Phulbari, Barapukuria, Jamalgonj, Dighipara and Khalaspeer -- are estimated to be 3 billion tons, equivalent to 67 tcf of gas, which can serve our energy needs for 50 years.
But due to lack of vision and political commitment, we failed to explore and exploit the natural resources for economic development. We have age-old mining policy, mining act, and mining regulations. We do not have a strategy for exploration or utilisation of gas reserve. We have yet to finalise a coal policy. So-called energy experts in Bangladesh, having no exposure to active mining, are opposing coal mining. This group is misguiding policy makers.
We should immediately go for mining in Phulbari and Barapukuria using modern mining technology appropriate to our conditions. If we go for open-pit mining we can extract 90% of the coal, and if we go for underground mining we can extract only 5% of the coal. The obvious option is open-pit method.
Care must be taken so that mining would be safe, economical and environmentally friendly. The affected people must be properly compensated and relocated, and should get a portion of the royalty of the coal mined from the locations which once used to be their own property. The mined land may be reclaimed within 10 to 15 years, and must be handed over to original owners.
The concern and propaganda about desertification and massive environmental disaster are illogical. There are hundreds of open-pit mines in India. 88% of electrical power plants of India are coal-based. There are 273 mine fields in Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal, of which 90 are open-pit. India has not become desert. South Africa, Poland, China, Australia and US have not become deserts, though they use their own mined coal to the tune of 49% to 93% for power generation.
The above chart shows the details of coal-fields in Bangladesh. The total coal deposit is 3 billion tons. 1.73 million tons of coal had been extracted by underground method from Barapukuria up to December 2008. The present prices of coal per ton in the international market is $65-115 of steam coal, $250 of coking coal, $525 of metallurgic coke coal. The total value of the deposit will be more than $500 billion.
Choice of method
The method of mining depends on several things -- geology, soil conditions and nature, nature of overburden, hydrology, depth, thickness and nature of coal seam. Barapukuria underground mining initiative was not an appropriate choice. The mine has a strong aquifer above the coal layer and does not have strong roof support for underground mining. The feasibility report according to many was not properly done.
Risk analysis and Hazard and Operability Analysis (HAZOP) were not properly carried out at the design stage. It has been established by now that underground mining at Barapukuria was a technical blunder. All kinds of mine disasters -- flooding due to water ingression, spontaneous combustion of coal and release of lethal carbon monoxide and explosive methane gas, huge land subsidence, coal dust and excessive heat and humidity in the mine atmosphere, rock bump and sudden caving etc. in a coal mine have taken place there.
More than Tk.2,000 crore was spent for mining at Barapukuria, where no further mining based on the present underground long wall mining will be feasible after the current phase is completed. All this evidence confirms that open-pit mining would have been an appropriate choice for Barapukuria. We must not make the same mistakes in Phulbari and must go for open- pit. The experiences of Barapukuria and Phulbari will dictate what will be course for Jamalgonj and other minefields. The energy ministry has realised its mistakes, and plans to take up a pilot project for open-pit mining in Barapukuria.
Effects of mining
Mining of coal and burning of coal have definite environmental and social impacts. Coal mining releases approximately twenty toxic chemicals, of which 85% is managed on site. Coal mining produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), potent greenhouse gas causing climate change and global warming. It creates acid rain, acid rain drainage (ARD), dust, mercury emissions, interference with the ground water and water table levels, renders land unfit for use, and pollutes the air.
Modern scientific methods have been evolved to manage these harmful impacts. Water is treated and re-cycled for use. Dust is suppressed by water sprinkling. Top-soil preserved separately is placed on the top again when land is reclaimed. This is how the management of water, air and land is done.
Coal mine act
Bangladesh government must adopt a coal mine act immediately for the development and operation of coal mines and create an inspectorate of mines, which will monitor, observe, and make sure that the provisions of the act are followed.
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Recommendations

* We should immediately go for coal mining for economic development of the country;
* Mined coal to be used for electrical power generation;
*Mined coking coal (30%) found suitable for making metallurgic coke coal to be used for steel making. Iron ores may be imported from Indian state of Orissa. A steel mill may be established in the mine area;
*No export of coal. Develop coal-based industries so that the coal can be fully utilised;
*We should float a Bangladesh Coal Mining Company. A GOB-private partnership mining company may be established for close monitoring and checking of probable exploitation.
*As we have no experience and expertise, a foreign mining company may be invited for mining in the first phase, but must not be given the lion's share;
*People in the mining area must be properly and adequately rehabilitated and compensated;
*Open-pit method for mining will be appropriate and most suitable for Phulbari and Barapukuria coal mines. Out of 390 million tons reserve coal of Barapukuria only 1.73 million tons, which is less than 1%, have so far been extracted by underground method;
*Social and environmental impact management must be ensured;
*The Bangladesh government must get proper royalty, excise duties, taxes, fees, VAT, stowing excise etc.

Major General A.T.M. Abdul Wahab, is a Mechanical Engineer.