Better use of coal energy

Dr. Idris Miah Energy crisis is one of the most serious problems at present in Bangladesh. It hampers most of the development programs. Factory production to agriculture, domestic to state works, education to research activities, everywhere there are unexpected suffering from electricity crisis and this crisis is increasing day by day. At present, the country is producing less than 5,000 MW of electricity and the demand is more than 6,500 MW. Very soon, the demand will cross 10,000 MW. The country is trying its best to fulfill the demand, but positive result has not yet been gained. Few years back, government introduced quick rental projects to generate electricity for quick solution. These projects are using imported diesel and furnace oil. Due to the high cost of these oils, the cost of electricity generation increased few times higher than natural gas based electricity. The price of oil is increasing time to time. As a result, the government is bound to increase the cost of electricity step by step to minimize the subsidy in this sector and it becoming intolerable for the citizens. So, immediately the country has to come out from this costly project, though at that time its necessity was valid, but increased oil price has made it less effective and we have to search cheap energy source to fulfill long time demand. Natural gas is our most vital cheap energy source for electricity generation, but its reserve is not sufficient for increased electricity demand. Although some new reserves have been added with previous, yet it is decreasing day by day due to excess use. Another cheap fossil fuel exists in Bangladesh. That is high quality bituminous coal. Coal was discovered in greater Rangpur and Dinajpur districts at shallow depth by the Geological Survey of Bangladesh. These coal basins are at Barapukuria, Khalaspir and Dighipara. Phulbari coal basin is the extension of Barapukuria one. Besides these, coal deposit was also discovered at Jamalganj of Joypurhat district at comparatively greater depth. It is also mineable, but extraction after gasification will be more suitable. Coal bed methane extraction is another possibility of this deposit. Most of these coals, except a very little part of Barapukuria, are intact. Small quantity of coal is being extracting from Barapukuria field, which is being used to generate electricity. Underground mining technique is applying in this field. Because of less effective technique, at present more or less 20% of coal is being extracting from Barapukuria mine. Although, it is possible to recover around 30% coal in underground coal mine. Accurate estimation of coal reserve of RangpurDinajpur shallow fields has not yet been done. An approximate reserve of coal in this area is less than 2000 million metric tons. Estimated coal reserve of Jamalganj basin is around 1500 million metric tons. Geoscientists are expecting more coal in greater Rangpur, Dinajpur, Bogra and Rajshahi districts. So, solid fossil fuel coal reserve of Bangladesh is satisfactory. The quality of Bangladeshi coal is very high and very much ideal for electricity generation. These are high quality bituminous Gondwana coal. It contains very little moisture and sulphar. Fixed carbon and volatile matter are in satisfactory limit. Ash limit is also satisfactory. So, environment

pollution by burning this coal will be minimum. In a word, establishment of Bangladeshi coal based power generating centers will be comparatively environment friendly and economic. Present energy crisis of Bangladesh is becoming serious day by day. Increased production and increased demand cannot be adjusted. Moreover, the cost of electricity generation is also increasing very fast due to increasing oil price in the international market. It has already become intolerable for general people. In these circumstances, authority may establish gas or coal based power station instead of oil based ones. Availability of natural gas is limited, but we have high quality coal. So, Government may take necessary steps to extract coal from our deposits and establish big power stations, which will produce thousands of mega watt electricity from our own coal. Side by side search for green energy sources have to continue. Establishment of Ruppur nuclear power station may continue. In this case, priority has to be given to its safety side. Nuclear fuel other than uranium may be safer. Now, the questions may arise about the technique of coal extraction. There are two methods for coal extraction. Open pit mining and underground mining. Both the methods have some limitations. The major limitation of underground mining is the amount of production. Not more than 30% of total reserves of coal can be extracted. Frequent accident inside the mine is another obstruction of underground mine. Positive sides of this mining method are initial cost is less, needs less land and it is applicable in deeper fields too. On the other hand, open pit mines need larger area, may need much people to be resettled and fertile land of a large area may be destroyed and environmental pollution could be a factor. After mining, an artificial lake may be created. The most positive side of open pit coal mine is its production. More than 90% of total reserves can be extracted. Gasification extraction is another method in deeper coal basin. In this process, coal is technically converted into gas inside mine and then extracts gas from there. Extraction of coal bed methane is also a technique. Both of these may be considered for Jamalganj coal field. First underground coal mining in Bangladesh has already been started at Barapukuria. At least two more effective underground mines can be established, one at Khalaspir and another at Dighipara basins immediately, so that around 30% of total reserves can be recovered. As an experimental basis an open pit coal mine may be started in this area. A detailed mining site selection survey has to be carried out for that. Following conditions will be needed for this survey: (i) the seams should be within mineable depth, (ii) the area should be barren or less fertile agricultural land and (iii) the population of the area must be less. Successful positive result will guide to establish country's first open pit coal mine. Barapukuria is the shallowest coal basin of the country. Northern part of it is probably shallower. If it fulfills other conditions then, this place can be considered for open pit mine. The depth of Khalaspir basin is next to Barapukuria. So, an open pit coal mine at suitable place of Khalaspir basin can also be considered. Generation of electricity from Bangladeshi coal has many fold advantages. Quality of Bangladeshi coal is very high, so energy will be more and pollution will be less. Reserve of coal is satisfactory, so the supply will continue for long time. As a result a long time solution of present energy crisis will be achieved. People are the owner of all coal deposits of the country. Government may make favorable production sharing contracts with the miners. In this case, the authority may preserve local people's right as much as possible. The cost of coal will be cheaper than low quality imported

coal. Power stations have to be established near mine sites, so that coal transportation cost will be negligible. All the above matters keeping in mind, the Government may start next activities regarding coal extraction and establishment of coal based power stations immediately on emergency basis. In that case, within a very short time Bangladesh will be able to generate and add a few more thousand mega watt electricity in the national grid. Besides, Government will be financially benefited from VAT, royalty, taxes etc. Job opportunities for the local public and related experts will be created. Therefore, quick positive decision on Bangladeshi coal extraction and establishment of this coal based power stations will help the country to reach its target of vision to be a middle income country. (Dr. Idris Miah, Retired Director, Geological Survey of Bangladesh. Email: dr.idrismiah@gmail.com)