The next political government will determine the method of coal extraction—open-pit or underground—while the current interim administration is only responsible for preparing a roadmap, Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan stated.
Speaking at a seminar titled “The Prospects and Ways to Overcome Challenges of Coal Resources in Bangladesh,” organised by the Hydrocarbon Unit at Bidyut Bhaban, Khan emphasized that the interim government’s role is limited to making recommendations.
“We aim to prepare a roadmap for coal extraction, but the final decision rests with the next government,” he said.
At the event, Consumers’ Association of Bangladesh (CAB) energy adviser Prof. M. Shamsul Alam strongly opposed open-pit mining at the Phulbari coal mine. He criticized the Hydrocarbon Unit’s presentation for omitting the 2006 Phulbari protests against Asia Energy’s open-pit mining project, which resulted in three deaths and injuries to hundreds of demonstrators.
“The people of Phulbari signed an agreement with the then-government to abandon open-pit mining. What will happen to that commitment?” he asked.
However, Prof. Shamsul did not respond when Adviser Khan questioned whether he opposed local coal exploration entirely. Instead, he criticized the costly underground mining operations at Barapukuria, which are being conducted by a Chinese contractor.
Debate Over Mining Methods
Mushfiqur Rahman, Director (Technical) at Orgenergostroy Bangladesh, a company involved in the Rooppur nuclear power project, stressed that the choice of mining method depends on geological conditions and technology.
“Phulbari is the only coal field where open-pit mining is viable. Underground mining there is not feasible,” he explained. However, he urged the government to prioritize environmental and groundwater protections.
Meanwhile, Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Mohammad Saiful Islam highlighted the need to revisit the country’s outdated coal policy.
“At times, we have struggled to pay coal import bills due to foreign currency shortages. We must decide whether to use local coal for power plants,” he said.
Bangladesh has an estimated 834 million tonnes of recoverable coal, mostly suited for open-pit mining.
Economic and Environmental Considerations
In his keynote speech, Arup Kumar Biswas, Director (Exploration and Production) at HCU, noted that over 8,000 megawatts of coal-fired power plants in the country rely primarily on imported coal.
“Local coal has a significantly higher calorific value than imported coal, requiring 26-30% less fuel to generate the same electricity,” he said. He added that the government spent $1.6 billion on coal imports last year and may need $3-$4 billion more in the coming years.
Biswas also provided updates on the Barapukuria coal mine, which has produced 14.94 million tonnes so far, with 4 million tonnes expected by 2029. After that, open-pit mining will be necessary to continue extraction.
He emphasised that Phulbari is the most accessible coal field, with completed environmental and social impact studies. Coal production there could begin in 2-3 years, while other sites may take 8-10 years for approvals.
However, open-pit mining at Barapukuria would displace up to 20,000 villagers, requiring extensive rehabilitation efforts. The Hydrocarbon Unit proposed using the box-cut mining method at both Barapukuria and Phulbari.
According to HCU, Phulbari mining would require 54 square kilometers and $1 billion for local rehabilitation over 10-12 years. The site holds an estimated 475 million metric tonnes of recoverable coal, valued at $83 billion. Developing the coal field would cost an additional $15 billion, experts estimated.
The seminar also featured Md Nehal Uddin, former Director General of the Geological Survey of Bangladesh; Kazi Matin Uddin Ahmed, Dean of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Dhaka University; Yunus Akon, former Principal Geologist at the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission; and Petrobangla Chairman Md Rezanur Rahman.
