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Barapukuria Coal Mine

Production may hit snag for less consumption by power plant

KONGKON KARMAKER, Dinajpur
The Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Limited (BCMCL) authorities fear that coal production at Barapukuria coal mine might be hampered any time due to less consumption of coal by the ailing 250 megawatt (MW) coal-fired Barapukurta power plant as its two units often trip, leading to stockpiling of huge coal, sources said.
With severe technical glitches, the 1st unit of the plant had been consuming only 23,000 tonnes since April 21, while the 2nd unit was shut down. In March, it consumed about 70,000 tonnes of coal as the two units remained operative.
Sources said first unit of the coal-fired power plant faced closure on Saturday night as the plant developed technical glitches at super heat, a device inside the furnish chamber.
On the other hand, the 2nd unit, which restarted on July 6, remained inoperative since April 21 last due to a number of technical glitches. But the five-member Chinese expert team arrived the plant site last month and restarted it on July 6.
Sources said 100MW power was added to national grid on Fridaynight.
But plant sources said the renovation is not the ultimate solution as it plunged into severe technical glitches, which needs a radical overhaul with replacement of different parts.
Sources said Chinese experts proposed Tk 30 crore to fix the current trouble of the 2nd unit with replacing some parts. "If we go in line with Chinese experts' suggestions, the plant requires about six months to be fully operational,” added the sources.
According to the agreement, the plant consumes 60 percent coal of the total production. BCMCL sources said the mine is producing 3,000 tonnes of coal daily, but the plant has been consuming only 960 to 1000 tonnes each day before it went out of order on April 21 until yesterday which forced the authorities to stock the coal saturating the coalyard.
Sources said due to less consumption by the plant, BCMCL has some 2,40,000 tonnes of coal at its yard, while its actual capacity of storing is 2,05,000 tonnes as per international safety standard.
To vacate the coal yard, BCMCL initiated to sell the coal to international market, but the government dismissed the decision last week, saying that Bangladesh is presently importing at least 12 lakh tonnes coal every year from the neighbouring country.
According to the 2002 survey, at least 2.4 million tonnes of coal are required to meet the domestic demand, while BCMCL is producing at least one million tonnes. Of them, 60 percent coal is consumed by the power plant. But it is now consuming less than the actual demand, forcing the BCMCL to stockpile the coal on its yard.
Sources said BCMCL piled up coal up to seven to 10 metre height, while international standard is only three to five metres height which requires huge watering to avoid any fire
incident.
Besides, with severe shortage of coal storage, the plant authorities are now thinking to create a new room inside the plant complex to store about 100,000 tonnes coal.
"If we do not arrange an alternative coal yard, the piled-up coal will be burnt under the open sky as it is unsafe to keep coal at the yard for long time during dry season,” said a BCMCL
sourcO.
The mine authorities now fear that if the stockpiling scarcity continues or power plant consumes less coal, the coal production will be suspended.
The mine is currently producing 90,000 to 100,000 tonnes aiming at producing 900,000 tonnes within the current fiscal year.
The mine sold about 2,50,000 tonnes of coal at $110
dollars a tonne to private buyers, mainly brick kiln owners, making a huge profit for the first time after incurring more than Tk 150 crore loss in the last three years of its operation.
But the power plant glitches stand as one of the two major hurdles faced by the mine. The other hurdle is political resistance against mining fuelled by a vested quarter.