ARTICLE
Billion Dollars’ ‘Test Pit’
Zubayer Zaman

Finally the draft coal policy has been submitted to the government for consideration. The policy along with other much talked about issues proposes for developing a `test pit’ at the northern part of Barapukuria Coal Mine. Apparently, the test pit will help to assess environmental, social and geological impacts of open pit mining for coal. But the person with mining experience knows that the proposal is unrealistic and was promoted without assessing its technical and financial implications.

An open pit mining project involves huge technical, social and environmental activities from its feasibility to development and operational stages. The question is whether all these activities will be undertaken under the proposed `test pit’? Whether social and environmental impacts will be monitored for short or longer periods? Various short and long term impacts are associated with open pit mining operation and they need to be monitored throughout the mine life. The question remains open whether `best practice’ mitigation measures will be implemented under the project as needed in open pit mining to address social and environmental impacts. A test open pit without proper implementation of mitigation measures will achieve nothing, may invite disastrous consequences. How much financial liabilities the country will have to bear for this utopian idea? A logical explanation and analysis exposes the unrealistic nature of the `test pit’ proposal.

Prior to the commencement of `test pit’ operation, detailed social and environmental studies along with geological, geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations are to be conducted for mine design and associated activities. Skilled manpower and institutional capabilities are yet to be developed in the country for this type of studies including mine design, equipment selection and mine operation. Barapukuria underground coal mine has been developing for more than a decade but still the mine authority is dependent on the management of a Chinese company for extraction of coal.

The challenging part of open pit mining in the geological condition of Bangladesh is to initiate the dewatering operation efficiently. It is important to keep the mine dry and safe and as per available information the dewatering should be started at least 7-8 months ahead of the commencement of test pit operation. And it will have to be continued throughout the mine life.

Asia Energy, the only company submitted the Scheme of Development to the government after completing detailed study for developing an open pit coal mine at Phulbari coal basin, Dinajpur. Few others companies also have shown interest for open pit mine development. Asia Energy in its Scheme of Development has indicated that underground water needs to be extracted at a rate of 5000-6000 liters/sec for an initial box cut (which would be similar to a test pit) and to achieve that target around 50-60 pumps of 100 liters/sec capacity will be required. With the prevailing geological and hydrogeological conditions of Bangladesh, any open pit mine will require extraction of water efficiently and continuously at a similar or higher rate. Any major disruption in dewatering operation will flood the mine and will offer serious environmental difficulties. On the contrary, dewatering operation will lower the water table around the mine area. It may hamper the easy access to water temporarily for domestic, agriculture and other uses. A number of mitigation measures including alternative water supply system to be made available in the project affected areas. Also, infiltration of water to the underground aquifer will limit the extent of lowering the water table. A huge capital and operational costs are involved with these operations. No exception is possible for an acceptable and successful test pit.

Though there no specific recommendation is made about the size of the proposed test pit but considering the geological and geotechnical nature of the area this could be few hundred hectares. The depth of the coal seam and weak overburden materials (especially the water bearing Dupi Tila layer) will not allow steep mine slope. Besides, measures have to be taken for compensation for land and properties, rehabilitation, livelihood restoration of affected people for test pit and associated activities. The costs involved for importing mining equipments and mine operation are to be taken into consideration.

Two important installations like Barapukuria underground coal mine and 250 MW thermal power plant are located very close to the proposed test pit area. There are also agricultural lands, number of villages, rail, roads, power transmission lines etc. It’s not clear whether any consideration is made for relocation or safety of these huge installations. Any such experiment will threat the existence of these key installations.

The plan for proposed `test pit’ mining is not at all a small project though it is assumed so; contrary it is a huge project with multidisciplinary involvements. About half of total capital investment requires for conducting first few years operation of any open pit mine, (i.e for an `initial box cut’ or a `test pit’ and associated operation). Asia Energy in their Scheme of Development mentioned that about 1 billion dollar (Tk.7, 000 crore), will be required for initial box cut development and associated operations. What will be the achievement of the country by investing a billion dollars for a test project? What are the impediments in implementing a full-scale open pit mine if we have the technical and financial capability to establish a `test open pit’?

Open pit mining method has been in operation all over the world in different geological and hydrogeological condition for many decades. The open pit mining operation of the country rich in mineral resources can be monitored deeply for gaining experience or assessing impacts. Moreover, the `initial box cut’ of any open cut mine in Bangladesh will be a `test pit’ operation. The impacts and performance of the `box cut’ operation can be monitored extensively to assess its social and environmental impacts without any government financial involvement should there be a commercial operation allowed. The `test pit’ proposal of billion dollars only for experimental purposes without evaluating its technical and financial implications is a serious issue of concern. And it is also not logical and therefore acceptable if this initial mine could not be expanded and operated as commercial project. Two years have already been passed for adopting a coal policy but still it is in the draft stage. During this time country’s energy crisis deepened further. There is no good news from gas exploration endeavors. Our country is in a desperate need to develop coal. The self styled `expert’ proposal in the coal policy will not play any role in developing much expected coal sector; rather it will delay the whole process.

Zubayer Zaman, Geologist