Bara-pukururia mine resumes coal extraction after 2.5 months

Coal extraction has resumed at a new phase of the Barapukuria coal mine in Dinajpur, the country’s only operational coal mine, after a hiatus of around two and a half months.

Khan Jafar Sadik, general manager of the mine’s Mines and Operations Department, said trial extraction began at Phase No. 1405 on Thursday, while full-scale production started on Friday night. Local workers employed by the Chinese contractor are carrying out the extraction.

The mine authorities expect to extract around 300,000 tonnes of coal from the new phase. A tender has already been invited to sell the extracted coal to private buyers.

Previously, around 415,000 tonnes of coal were extracted from Phase No. 1309 by August 3, slightly exceeding the target. The transfer of machinery and equipment to the new phase took approximately two and a half months.

Meanwhile, more than 600,000 tonnes of coal were stored at the mine’s coal yard as of Friday for supply to the Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant.

All three units of the power plant remain shut down due to a fire and mechanical faults. The coal yard also lacks sufficient space to accommodate additional stocks.

To avoid complications, coal extracted from the new phase is being stored at a separate location.“ 

sks