Member Info for Pappiklon

From Nasruls’ speech in parliament a couple of weeks ago, imho nothing new here he stated it 2 weeks ago . Maybe next big of news will be Phulbari going to be mined its the next onviius thing from his speech…. Yes I know this Bangladesh and nothing is ever obvious…but that works both ways too!
Nasrul Hamid, MP: Thanks, honorable MP for asking a good question. I want to make response giving some information on this. There are 5 discovered coal fields in Bangladesh: Barapukuria, Phulbari, Dighipara, Khalaspir and Jamalganj. We can extract coal from Phulbari by open pit mining method. About 90% coal can be extracted removing overburden materials. Currently we are mining coal from Barapukuria at a daily rate of 1500-2000 tonnes through underground method. Many people ask me about coal mining, so I want to give this information. Honorable Speaker, I want to let all honorable MPs know through you that Dighipara is close to Barapukuria mine. We have already completed the feasibility study and found that, underground mining is feasible there. The coal to be mined from 300 meters below the surface and only 15-20% can be extracted. What I have said, open pit mining is only feasible in Phulbari. Other deposits are to be extracted by underground method.

Well that's one of the most comprehensive and sensible articles I have read in the Bangladesh Press, nice find Searcher

Don't think it will affect decisions on long term energy security, its still expensive imports requiring foreign currency and has been in the pipeline for a while. One of the big issues in Bangladesh has also been transmission infrastructure wonder if thats even in place !

Just thinking about the thread name 'It doesn't add up' because I think it does.
You arrange a question in parliament, you say yes it's feasible to open pit at phulbari and the only issue you raise is food security knowing full well that there was already a solution from the company to that issue.
From GCM Website:
'As a result of mine development, agricultural output over the life of the Project will actually increase, enhancing the food security for the local community.

Over the life of the Project the mine footprint will occupy 5,192 hectares. However, at any one time only a third of this area will be actively mined and the rest will still be under cultivation (or some other meaningful land use) either in advance of mining or following rehabilitation of the land after mining.

The farming community in Phulbari area currently faces a number of challenges including a lack of irrigation water, shortages of fertiliser and poor quality inputs. Drawing on lessons learned through the agricultural programmes developed during the Feasibility Study, and working with local partners, GCM has developed an Agriculture Improvement Plan. This will deliver an additional crop per year and higher yields per crop. Rice production alone will more than double as a result. Specific measures include provision of water for year round irrigation, training and improved farming practices, moves to higher yield and higher crop values and improved inputs including the provision of bio-fertiliser to reduce the dependence on pesticides and other chemicals.''

It doesn't matter what was said back in 2006 or 2014 what matters is what is being said now, it was only the beginning of November that in an orchestrated parliamentary question the energy minister said that underground mining had damaged agricultural land and that open pit at Phulbari was possible, then added that for it to happen they needed to ensure food security, The project would enhance and increase food security, I watched that parliamentary session and Hasina was sitting there calmly fully aware of what was being discussed. A few days later Prime Minister Hasina was encouraging her countrymen to find new land to grow crops on. Go back to the beginning of November on this board and read the transcripts, read the press coverage at the time and on subsequent days, I'm getting on in years now and sometimes suffer from short term memory loss, seems I'm not alone. Nothing is going to happen overnight the BD government, or more to the point it's government ministers have to get all the ducks lined up first. The big news is that the company have said they are in discussion with the government and the government have said open pit at Phulbari is possible. In my humble opinion when the company issues that RNS to say they submitted the set proposal it will all have been agreed already. All IMHO

The Proposal is for the power plants to be powered by coal from a proposed adjoining open pit mine where the power plants will be located. Technical studies for both the power plants and mine have been completed and are favorable. More detailed benefits coming from large-scale power generation based on local coal:

* Saves on significant FOREX outflow (also reducing current fuel imports).
* Frees limited natural gas for more strategic uses such as production of fertilizer and petrochemicals.
* Creates up to 50,000 new jobs in Bangladesh.
* Provides security of supply and reduces exposure to world market forces (National Security).
* Develops the skills and experience in the Bangladesh workforce and will enable mining approaches to be translated to discover and develop other coal deposits.
* Alleviates poverty in the Dinajpur District and surrounding areas.
* Provides in excess of US$20 billion to GDP.
* Provides in excess of US$7 billion in taxes / royalties to the Government.
* Stimulates development in the Dinajpur region - housing, schools, medical facilities, community centres, utility supplies, new and supporting industries related to coal and co-products from the mine.
* Enhances food security by improving agricultural output through providing all-year irrigation water, farm management training and improved inputs and product marketing.
* Enables development of various industries, eg. cement, glass, construction materials, ceramics, pottery and bricks from valuable industrial co-products.
* Allows the synergy between the Barapukuria and Phulbari coal mines to be appreciated.
* Will provide the lowest tariff power when utilised in mine-mouth power plants, i.e. eliminates costly coal handling and transport costs.
* Provides security of supply all year round as based on locally extracted coal.

Mine mouth power in the coal rich but industrially underdeveloped northern Bangladesh can bring significant regional and national benefits. It can potentially provide the cheapest electricity in the country avoiding the need for long haul transportation and handling of coal as required by other planned coal power plants in Bangladesh which are mostly relying on imported coal.

From the energy ministers speech in Parliament:
''
'' As food security is our first priority, if we can make a better arrangement for farmers and their land in future, then will extract coal from our coal mines.''

....and as if by magic....from GCM website

''As a result of mine development, agricultural output over the life of the Project will actually increase, enhancing the food security for the local community.

Over the life of the Project the mine footprint will occupy 5,192 hectares. However, at any one time only a third of this area will be actively mined and the rest will still be under cultivation (or some other meaningful land use) either in advance of mining or following rehabilitation of the land after mining.

The farming community in Phulbari area currently faces a number of challenges including a lack of irrigation water, shortages of fertiliser and poor quality inputs. Drawing on lessons learned through the agricultural programmes developed during the Feasibility Study, and working with local partners, GCM has developed an Agriculture Improvement Plan. This will deliver an additional crop per year and higher yields per crop. Rice production alone will more than double as a result. Specific measures include provision of water for year round irrigation, training and improved farming practices, moves to higher yield and higher crop values and improved inputs including the provision of bio-fertiliser to reduce the dependence on pesticides and other chemicals.''

No Excuses then?

Nasrul Hamid speech press article. IMHO appears to be a change of direction, and preparing the PR groundwork as there is always a solution when you ate talking billions of dollars of foreign reserves. It appears it is no longer being seen as an issue with open pit but one of food security and local welfare, all much easier issues to deal with.

https://en.barta24.com/details/national-en/169626/open-pit-coal-mining-possible-at-phulbari

'' As food security is our first priority, if we can make a better arrangement for farmers and their land in future, then will extract coal from our coal mines.''

Asia Energy Corporation, an Australia British owned multinational company has has done detail feasibility study and environmental and social impact assessment on Phulbari under a contract. The Study found the scientific solutions to environment, agriculture, water, bio diversity and rehabilitation issues and now waiting review and final node.

Government persons are involved too. They are taking advantage of the situation.

And Phulbari the only one ready to go with all the required studies done, lots of issues trying to do Bara as OP

Another line from the article.
‘as well as starting work on mining and utilisation of own coal under a long-term programme’

Just did the maths on that. GCM website say 572 million tonnes deposit at a $460 per tonne spot price it equates to a value of $263,120,000,000 thats over $263 billion the government by my reckoning will save in foreign currency coal imports over the next 30 years, I think they are down to around $30billion in reserves at the moment hence their applying for IMF loan because of the cost of fuel imports that has to be paid in $ (which if approved by IMF will have conditions attached like significantly reduce fuel imports). The country would appear to be on the verge of going bankrupt as a consequence of their past energy import policy. DYOR but I suspect big changes on the horizon.

Newcastle coal futures, the benchmark for top consuming region Asia, skyrocketed to a new record high of around $460 per tonne, supported by continued robust demand and persistent supply disruptions exacerbated by the war in Eastern Europe. The International Energy Agency sees coal consumption in Europe rising by 7% in 2022 on top of last year's 14% surge, with the continent now turning to seaborne coal from South Africa, Indonesia, and even as far away as Australia as it halts imports from Russia. Demand for coal in India, the world's second-biggest coal importer behind China, is expected to rise almost 10% in 2022 as the country's economy expands and electricity use increases. Markets were tight even before the invasion as soaring natural gas prices in Europe and Asia in late 2021 intensified gas-to-coal switching in many countries. .

https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/coal

Daily Star Article

Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, energy advisor to the prime minister, today stood in favour of power generation using coal and said Bangladesh did not make any promise regarding Net Zero Emissions by 2050.

https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/natural-resources/energy/news/bangladesh-didnt-promise-net-zero-emissions-2050-3062886

Actually the majority of the locals are not against it, there are some minority vocal vested interests that aren't even local, on a 'demo' by these imported agitators a few years back the locals beat the **** out of them and sent them packing back to Dhaka

New Age article quoting Energy Minister.

Imported coal price now fourfold, experts for increasing domestic production

‘But I have no alternatives to using upcoming coal-based capacity to end power outage,’ he said.
The power and energy ministry was also working to propose to the government for increasing domestic coal production, he said.
‘Domestic coal production will be increased only when people and environment are safe and properly compensated,’ said Nasrul Hamid.'

https://www.newagebd.net/article/178779/new-coal-based-power-unlikely-to-ease-crisis

The state minister said: “If we are able to explore coal from our domestic resources it will save our foreign currency. Right now we are importing coal using foreign currency and besides our domestic coal quality is better than what we are importing now.

“We have made a plan, now the government has to decide whether it is feasible or not. If we can start exploring now, it will take at least four to five years to start mining from a coal field. We are thinking about how to expand coal mining in Bangladesh. Hopefully, we will make a decision regarding this by this year.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2022/08/12/is-it-time-to-take-another-look-at-coal

From Dhaka Tribune

Hi Redeye
Dont think that is necessarily the case, lots of issue being reported in the Bangladesh press over codt of imported fuel, they are shutting down and ceasing imports of fuel for oil/diesel power plants becsusevoc cost, doing load shedding across the country, many paces already had long daily power outages, petrol stations sre being told they cant stay open 7 dsys a week, overall the cost of imported fuels is causing concern among the banks thst foreign exchange reserves are being massively depleted, dhops have to close at 8pm, mosques not allowed to use sir con except during prayers, there seems to be a sense of panic and urgency in government, possibly around seeing what has happened in sri lanka and fears of serious unrest with rising prices, fuel and power shortages, if I get some time over the weekend will post some links. Tapping this on my phone so excuse typos!

Hi Mr P, hope alls well in your world, long time no see.
Be interesting to see with elections coming up if Sheikh Hasina steps down, she is after all 75, and gets her son Joy to step up, consensus is that when she does step down it will undoubtedly be another member of her family that takes the reins.

that no one mentions !

https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/energy/where-are-coal-power-plants-save-day-455170