How Barapukuria Can Address Bangladesh’s Rising Coal Demand
Barapukuria Coal Mining Company (BCMCL) , operator of the first and sole coal mine of Bangladesh, has reported a decrease of 13% in annual coal production during FY19. The company recorded 805,695.63 MT coal output in FY19 as against 923,276.08 MT in FY18, thus attaining its lowest total in past 4 fiscals. Primarily envisaged to cater the coal requirement of thermal plant set up by Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), Barapukuria coal was also sold to local buyers at approved price by the board keeping consistency with the international market.[1] However, in order to augment coal supplies to the thermal plant, Bangladeshi government has ceased selling of Barakupuria coal to local buyers since 19 Mar’18. The gradual affect of the decision resulted in a 5% increase in coal supplies to BPDB’s plant to 828,736.77 MT in FY19, while sale to local industries was merely reduced to 894.19 MT in FY19 as against 274,144.79 MT in FY18, because no supplies were made to them ever since...
