Phulbari
Experts okay open pit mining
A committee of experts, formed by the government, yesterday submitted its report on suitable coal mining method in Bangladesh to the energy and mineral resources ministry, suggesting open pit mining in Phulbari coal deposit as a practical approach.
The 17-member committee, headed by former Petrobangla chairman Mosharraf Hossain, also suggested undertaking a small open pit mine project in the untapped northern part of Bangladesh's lone coal mine in Barapukuria.
For the remaining coal discoveries in Jamalganj, Dighipara and Khalashpir, the committee said those areas are not suitable for open pit mining and they should tapped using underground mining method.
Because of resistance to the open pit mining proposal for Phulbari made by Asia Energy earlier, the committee said Asia Energy's Environmental Impact Assessment report needed to be verified by the government's own study.
The Phulbari project has been suspended for the last seven years following a public protest in August of 2006 against the open pit mining proposal of Asia Energy.
Other members of the committee include officials of different ministries and experts from various universities.
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