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Now COP27 has finished I wonder how long it will be before we hear more about -

Open Pit Coalmining Possible At Phulbari?

https://www.energybangla.com/open-pit-coalmining-possible-at-phulbari/

State Minister for Power, Energy& Mineral resources Mr. NasrulHamid has said, open pit coal mining is only possible at Phulbari Coal reserve. He was responding to a series of questions on power & energy at the national parliament on Tuesday. Referring local coal extraction posed byMember of Parliament (MP) of Constituency Dinajpur-6Mr. Shibli Sadiq the state minister stated in his response that, coal reserve in Dighipara mine can be extracted through underground mining.
Earlier honorable SpeakerShirin Sharmin Chaudhury asked Mr. Sibli Sadiqfor raising his supplementary question in question-and-answer session in the National Parliament.
Raising the question Mr. Sibli Sadiq MP said, While we are struggling to run many of our power plants due to fuel crisis, the Dighipara coal field that has been discovered in my constituency could have been a blessing for the country. I do not know, why there is no progress in developing this coal field despite having completion of feasibility study. We have seen comments from many countries on climate change issue and proposing ban on burning fossil fuel, but they have been burning coal for long, way back 200 years, and enjoying a higher living standard. But why we are unable to utilize this resource? My submission to honorable minister, please let us know why the development activities of this mine is not started?
In his tresponse, State Minister for Energy, Power & Mineral resources has said, 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.

The economic case of coal development is well established. The challenge is environmental. The nation needs to seriously examine the possibility if our own coal could be developed within a reasonable and acceptable environmental compromise.

https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/29th-anniversary-issue-1/crisis-should-not-dictate-energy-planning-1667977585

Tension is running high among the people across the country as Awami League and its arch rival BNP appear to be facing off on December 10.

https://www.daily-sun.com/amp/post/656280/AL-BNP-look-set-to-face-off-on-Dec-10

Interesting read…

https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2022/11/19/just-a-drop-in-the-ocean

Cargo loaded with coal averts major accident in Pasur river

https://www.bangladeshlivenews.com/en/bangladesh/details/cargo-loaded-with-coal-averts-major-accident-in-pasur-river

Dhaka, November 12: A cargo of coal was narrowly escaped in the Pasur river. The driver quickly lifted the cargo to a nearby pasture as the floor was severely ruptured. As a result, 12 crew members and 850 metric tons of coal carried for Rampal power station were saved. This incident happened on Friday morning.
According to sources, the accident occurred when the foreign ship anchored at Harbaria of Mongla port, loaded with coal, got stuck in the water and burst its deck on its way to Rampal thermal power plant jetty. Immediately the ship was raised to the east bank of the river by the cargo master. Farooq Ghazi, the master of the MV Jumayra-1 cargo ship which was involved in the accident, said that the cargo left the foreign ship MV Pythagoras loaded with 850 metric tons of coal at anchorage number 5 of Harbaria on Friday around 7 am. The cargo then rests in Anchorage Area No. 5 to await the tide. Later, after the tide turned, the cargo left for Rampal thermal power plant jetty around 10 am. On the way, reaching the Charkana area of ??Pasur River, the cargo got stuck in the water and the bottom deck of the ship burst. At this time, the ship quickly lifted the cargo. Due to which the ship was saved from sinking in the river. Now the ship is in safe condition. He also said that the ship will be removed safely by bringing the crane and removing the coal from the accident cargo. The 12 officers and crew are safe as the ship can be towed away. Even though the deck was breached, water could not enter the interior of the ship. Cargo Supervisor A. Alim said that the coal of Rampal thermal power plant is being released from the cargo due to the accident. Coal is unloaded by crane and placed in another cargo next door. 400 tons of coal has been released till 2 pm on Saturday (November 12). After discharging the coal, the cargo will be taken down from the river bed and taken safely.

A closer look at the power projects in progress (Figure 2) shows that gas based power plants would reach 16,600 MW (megawatts) capacity in 2027 requiring at least 2500 mmcfd (0.9tcf per annum) gas and 7,000 MW coal requiring 25.5 million tons of coal per year. This would cost $11 billion @$12/mmbtu (1 Million British Thermal Units) and $5 billion (@$200/ton) respectively to import provided the current high energy price settles into a new equilibrium. Including oil for power plants (still at 6,000 MW) and transport, power import from India and nuclear fuel, the overall energy bill would be a whopping $25 billion in 2027. Taking some contribution from local gas, the conservative bill would be at least $20 billion a year. Using the PSMP 2016 plan or even the new IEPMP 2022 energy mix, the total energy import bill in 2041 would be no less than $40 billion a year.

Despite the massive energy transition towards renewables, all major thinks tanks and agencies agree that, significant dependency on fossil fuel will prevail till 2050

https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/29th-anniversary-issue-1/crisis-should-not-dictate-energy-planning-1667977585

I believe this is the link that you are looking for?

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/awami-league-22nd-national-council-dec-24-3154571

BB withdraws cap to loan coal-based power plants

The Bangladesh Bank in a directive has withdrawn the lending limit for coal-based power plants aiming to increase power generation.

As per the directive, banks can lend money to set up coal-based power plants as required for power generation in the next 5 years.
Md Ali Akbar Faraji, director of banking regulation and policy department, issued the notification as Bangladesh is struggling to run gas-based and diesel-run power plants amid rising oil prices because of the Russia-Ukraine war.

It says the banks can provide necessary loans for setting up coal-based power plants, including the purchase of land, import and purchase of machinery, expenses related to the installation of machinery, and maintenance of coal-based power plants.

As a result, the calculation of lending 25 per cent of the reserved capital to get bank loans will not be effective for the next five years.

In July, Bangladesh Bank gave such instructions for six months.

https://www.newagebd.net/article/185902/bb-withdraws-cap-to-loan-coal-based-power-plants

The decision aims to keep the flow of money uninterrupted to produce power, the central bank says
Bangladesh Bank has relaxed the rules for businesses to finance coal-fired power plants, exempting them from a cap on the loans they can take from banks.

Businesses were able to apply for loans worth up to 25 percent of their capital. The central bank exempted the financing of coal-based power plants from the ceiling in a notice on Tuesday.

The loans can be used for the purchase of land, machinery and raw materials, including coal. The exemption will be effective over the next five years.
The central bank said it will set a new ceiling.

It also said the decision aimed to keep the flow of money uninterrupted to produce power.

The central bank lowered the cap on lending to businesses to 25 percent from 35 percent of their capital in January.

The decision came a day after United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking at the UN climate summit in Egypt, asked countries to agree to phase out the use of coal, one of the most carbon-intense fuels, by 2040 globally, with members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development hitting that mark by 2030.
Bangladesh is among the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Its government cancelled 10 planned coal-based power plants last year after taking their environmental impact into consideration.

But the country is struggling to cope up with an energy crisis, as depleting dollar reserves have put pressure on fuel imports, forcing authorities to ration power.

Bangladesh lifts loan ceiling to finance coal-based power plants

https://bdnews24.com/economy/aqr174uh50

Many countries with rich resources of oil, gas, and coal have criticised the push for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels, arguing it is economically reckless and unfair to poorer and less developed nations keen for economic growth.

https://bdnews24.com/environment/eydondxrm4

"Bangladesh didn't promise Net Zero Emissions by 2050"

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.

Bangladesh is a very low carbon emission country and that is why the promise of Net Zero Emissions by 2050 will not be applicable for Bangladesh, the PM's energy advisor said.

"We didn't make such a promise anywhere, it's not our goal. It's for the developed countries," he said at the second stakeholders' meeting on Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) at a hotel in the capital.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thedailystar.net/environment/natural-resources/energy/news/bangladesh-didnt-promise-net-zero-emissions-2050-3062886%3famp

A real positive to see this news highlighted and hitting much of the press today….

“Calling to solve the energy crisis by encouraging the use of coal in power generation in Bangladesh, he emphasised on using the country's own coal. "We have to use our own coal. In addition to increasing investment in industry, environment-friendly energy cooperation will be needed for the development of the country."

https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/interest-rate-hike-to-put-industries-in-difficulties-1667667387?amp=true

That’s at least twice now over the last few weeks that Anu has expressed his anger about those who are starting to lobby for own coal and Phulbari rather than gas…
Maybe, just maybe the tide really is starting to turn now, and those in the government who GCM have been in discussions with, are starting to feel confident about talking about Phulbari in public!!

Even coal exploration was export-oriented. Coal exploration lobbyists are now active. They say that coal exploration in Phulbari will develop the north -- but this definition of development does not take into account the loss of agricultural land, water and the internal migration it will cost," said Anu Muhammad.

Those who had suggested that gas be exported are now lobbying for coal mining, he opined.

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/bangladesh-not-running-out-gas-it-hasnt-explored-3161541?amp

He also urged the government to solve the energy crisis by encouraging the use of coal in power generation.
"We have to use our own coal. In addition to increasing investment in industry, environment-friendly energy cooperation will be needed for the development of the country," the FBCCI chief said.

https://www.jagonews24.com/en/amp/64777

Thermal Power Plant Market (By Fuel Type: Coal,

The rising government investments in the establishment of thermal power plants such as the Phulkari Coal Powered Plant in Bangladesh, Patratu Super-Thermal Power Plant (Coal) in India, Fuyang Power Station, and HuadianLaizhou Power Station in China is a major factor that is expected to fuel the growth of the Asia Pacific thermal power plant market during the forecast period.

https://www.precedenceresearch.com/thermal-power-plant-market/amp

Mmmm I did not realise that the GoB were yet invested in Phulbari .... maybe the are psychic lol

All she has to do now, is find a way of paying for the coal she continues to import

COAL-FIRED POWER CAPACITY DOUBLES IN BANGLADESH

https://ep-bd.com/view/details/article/ODA0NQ%3D%3D/title?q=coal-fired+power+capacity+doubles+in+bangladesh

When is Hasina going to admit that she can’t continue to import coal…..

Country’s forex reserve stands at $35.90b

https://www.daily-sun.com/post/651574/Country’s-forex-reserve-stands-at-35.90b