BANGLADESH’S COAL IMPERATIVE: UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF PHULBARI26 Oct 2025 08:14
Of Phulbari- or Barapukuria-quality coal annually—or a larger volume of imported, lower-quality coal.
Currently, Bangladesh’s coal supply is almost entirely import-dependent, as the country’s only operating coal mine, Barapukuria, can supply only its own mine-mouth power plants (525 MW). Imported coal generally has a lower calorific value—between 4,500 and 5,000 kcal/kg (GAR)—compared to the country’s high-quality domestic coal, which exceeds 6,600 kcal/kg (GAR). This means that generating the same amount of power from imported coal requires roughly 30% more coal than using locally sourced coal.
The financial and logistical challenges of coal imports are substantial. Bangladesh spends US$4–5 billion annually on imported coal for the power sector alone—funds that could otherwise be conserved through the development of domestic coal resources.
In this context, the Phulbari coal deposit could make a transformative contribution to Bangladesh’s energy security. Its substantial open-pit mining reserves, large annual production capacity, consistent high quality, and reliability of supply throughout the operational life of large power plants make Phulbari a highly attractive and viable primary energy source for the country.
Phulbari has the Largest Mineable Reserve
The proposed Phulbari mine contains Bangladesh’s largest open-pit mining reserve, estimated at 475 million tonnes (Mt). This estimate is conservative, and additional reserves could be identified as mining progresses and geological understanding improves.
The current mine plan envisions more than 83% recovery of the total estimated resource of 572 Mt (JORC-compliant)—a stark contrast to the meager 4–6% recovery achieved so far at the Barapukuria underground mine. Similarly, the proposed Dighipara mine targets production of 90 Mt from a total estimated resource of 706 Mt, translating to only 12–13% recovery. In both cases, a significant portion of the country’s valuable coal resources remains untapped and ultimately abandoned.
Phulbari Mine Ensures Large Annual Production
The Phulbari coal basin is ideally suited for efficient open-pit mining. The proposed mine plan calls for an annual output of 15 Mt over a 30+ year mine life—enough to meet nearly 60% of Bangladesh’s current annual thermal coal demand. This underscores Phulbari’s strategic importance in achieving the country’s energy security objectives.
The mine can support the full operational life (25–30 years) of large power plants, providing a critical incentive for investors in the power sector. First coal production from Phulbari could begin within 2–3 years of construction, compared to the 8–10 years typically required for underground mines. For reference, Barapukuria took over 12 years to reach commercial production, while Dighipara is projected to take 8–10 years to complete construction.
https://ep-bd.com/view/details/article/MTIxNzk%3D/title?q=bangladesh%e2%80%99s+coal+imperative
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