ZCZC
BSS-20
COAL-RESERVE-DIGHIPARA
Dighipara has 70.60cr tonne minable coal: report
DHAKA, March 9, 2020 (BSS) – The Dighipara basin in Dinajpur is the second largest among the discovered coal fields in the country, having around 70.60 crore tonnes of extractable coal reserves, says a feasibility study report.
Dighipara has a high quality coal resource of 70.60 crore tonnes with a high level of confidence, according to the feasibility study jointly conducted by German based MIBRAG Consulting International GmbH, FUGRO Consult GmbH and Runge Pincook Minaroo Limited of Australia.
It said coal is deposited on 12.8 square kilometer land and the government can extract 30 lakh tonnes of coal from the mine every year. It is technically possible to mine 90 million tonnes of coal from Dighipara allowing the powering of Thermal Power Station for 30-40 years.
According to the study, the energy content of the coal is high and the ash content is low and the coal is overlain by a very think sequence of semi-consolidated material that host large volume aquifers.
The consortium understands that the delivery of more than 3.0 million tonnes of high quality thermal coal from the Dighipara lease area is a critical element in the ongoing energy security and energy growth in Bangladesh. Contribution from this project area was planned as a part of the overall Bangladesh Energy Master Plan.
Talking to BSS, State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid said the latest technology will be used to develop the coal field protecting the environment and agricultural land.
He said the government is committed to protecting agricultural land and nature along with environment of the country, adding, “We will develop the Dhigipara coal field using underground mining method with more concentration on environment as well as welfare of local people.”
The consortium conducted feasibility study within 24 square kilometers to assess the economic viability of the coal field between June 1, 2017 and September 30, 2019.
Barapukria Coal Mining Company implemented the project ‘Feasibility Study for Development of Dighipara Coal Field’ with its own funding.
The study said the highest calorific value of coal is 7067 kilocalorie/kg or 12,271 btu/pound and the average calorific value is 6,645 kolocalorie/kg or 11,961 btu/pound. Content of Sulphur in the coal is 0.85 percent.
BSS/SPL/SAS/TAN/BR/1851