Chapter 8

“Rapid Assessment & Necessary Re-adjustment of Barapukuria & Dighipara Coal Mining Strategy”, – A Study by Engr. Abul KM Shamsuddin, a National Coal Expert of Bangladesh & Mr. Sunil K Nakra, an International Coal Expert from India for the Development of Barapukuria Coal Mine & Dighipara Coal Deposit made in 2016 was approved by Ministry of Energy, Govt. of Bangladesh for further necessary action. The Paper is presented below:
Rapid Assessment and Necessary Re-adjustment of Barapukuria and Dighipara Coal Mining Strategy

FINAL REPORT PRESENTATION BY:

1. SUNIL K NAKRA, SENIOR COAL EXPERT (INTERNATIONAL);
2. ENGR ABUL KM SHAMSUDDIN,SENIOR COAL EXPERT (NATIONAL);

VENUE: PETROBANGLA, DHAKA; DATE: 21 AUGUST 2016.

Background

• Barapukuria Coal Mine is the first Coal Mine in Bangladesh having total reserves of 390 Million Tonnes of High quality Bituminous Coal.
• Production capacity of this Mine is about 1 million Tonnes per year which is being extracted from Seam VI
• Average coal thickness of seam VI is 36m.

Purpose of the study

• To meet the increased coal demand of the country.
•  A mine expansion program of the Barapukuria coal Basin and development of Dighipara coal field is taken.

Objective of the study

The broad objective of the study is to conduct rapid assessment to re-adjust coal mining strategy in Barapukuria and Dighipara Coal field.

	Coal Fields	Depth of Coal Seam	Resource&Reserve in Million Tons
1	Barapukuria	118-509	346.71
2	Phulbari	150-250	572.00
3	Khalashpir	228-510	523.49
4	Jamalganj	640-1158	1053.90
5	Dighipara	323-408	600.00

History of Coal Mining in BangladeshBarapukuria Coal Mine is the first developed and constructed Coal Mine in Bangladesh.

• It is a modern Mine from International standards
• The basic design of the Mine was completed in 1995.
• The Mine commenced construction in June 1996,
• The Main shaft sinking was started in December 1996 and completed in October 1997
• The service shaft sinking was started in April 1997 and completed in November 1997.
• The two shafts were interconnected in December 1997

History of Development of Barapukuria Project

• Pre-feasibility Study – June 1989.
• Techno-Economic Feasibility study – January 1991:  
• Basic Mine Design – May 1995

This report is based on ‘Evaluation and Proposal Report’ submitted earlier by CMC Jiangsu Coal Mine design Institute In November 1991, (which contains comments on TEFS Report)

• Modification of Basic Design – January 2000.

This Report was based on findings of ‘Supplementary Geology Exploration report’ ( December 1994).

Geology – Barapukuria Coalfield

• Barapukuria coalfield was discovered in 1985 by the Geological Survey of Bangladesh.
• The coal occurs at depth from 118 to 509 meter.
• There are six coal seams I, II, III, IV, V and VI from top to bottom
• Seam VI is the most consistent and the thickest.
• Of the total reserve of 300 million tons Seam VI contains 285 million tons, i.e. 90% of total reserve.
• Of geological resource of 285.41 Mt of VI Seam , only 81.46 Mt (i.e. 28.54%) would be recoverable
• The rest of the resources of VI Seam, will be lost due to various design loses and mining loss.

Coal Quality of Barapukuria Coalfield

Ash	Volatile matter	Fixed carbon	Total Sulfur	Gross Calorific value
12.4%	29.2%	48.4%	0.53	25.68 MJ/Kg- 11040 Btu/lb

• Upper Dupi Tila Formation

The aquifer constitutes the major groundwater reservoir of Bangladesh.

• Lower Dupi Tila Formation 

It is an aquiclude  distributed in the Central & Southern zone but absent in the north forming an “open window”.

Barapukuria Coal Mining Method – Technical issues

• Seam VI is the main Mineable seam with average thickness of 36 m extends all over the Mining Lease area.
• Geothermal Gradient is high
• Seam VI is covered by more than 100m of abundant water bearing strata.
• Mining conditions are thus complex. The production capacities are influenced by these factors.
• The method adopted is inclined Top slicing Longwall along strike with caving.
• CMC in their Basic Design have limited the maximum cumulative Mining thickness to 24 m with 8 slices.
• The first slice is to be strictly limited to 2.5 m while in the later slice the thickness could be raised to 3m.

Mining Method – expectations

• In anticipation of increasing Mining thickness (Slice) later, in Central and Southern districts a cumulative Mining thickness of 30 m has been indicated in the Basic Mining plan.
• In the Northern Zone CMC advises that Longwall Mining should not be planned due to shallow depth, more number of faults and vulnerability to excess water ingress in this ‘open window’ area.

Reserves Reconciliation – Simplified

Reserves	t
Geological reserves of Seam VI	285,410,800
Recoverable Reserves	145,774,100
High Confidence Recoverable Reserves (40%)	59,365,900
Reserves in Seam VI Open window (presently considered unminable)	94,182,200
Reserves lying within Seam VI open window (currently considered non-mineable) are slated for mining later period of mine life. These could be liberated step by step, through careful drainage planning, reduction of pressure over time and other precautions against flooding.  They can over time be converted to standby reserves.

Sequence of Extraction

Sequence	Area to be Excavated	Method of Mining	Production Capacity	Service Life
1.	Seam VI – No. 1 District	Longwall face extraction	1000 Kt/annum	50 Years
2.	Seam VI – No. 2 District	Room and Pillar	600-800 Kt/annum	15 years
3.	Seam V	Longwall face combined with single entry mining method	200-300 Kt/annum	10 Year
It is assumed in the original design that after 50 years of Longwall operations Room and pillar mining will be undertaken in relevant areas for 15 years and thereafter the higher seam V will be excavated by Longwall method for 10 years. It doesn’t stand to reason why the mine should continue to operate @ 1mta for 50 years and why the mine should be planned for such a low rate of production to stretch its life to 75 years?

Vital Issues – needing attention

• There are 7 coal formations, in descending order Seam I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII.
• Seam VI, thickest among the seams is the main Production seam.
• Other Coal seams are relatively thin and are distributed in smaller area in the centre of the basin.
• These other seams were not planned for Mining in the basic design developed by CMC during construction stage nor is it in focus now.

Dighipara Coalfield

• Dighipara coal field was discovered in 1995 in Rangpur district by the Geological Survey of Bangladesh.
• Several Coal Seams occurs at depths 328 to 420 meters.
• The reserve estimation of the coal field is being carried out; preliminary estimate suggest 250 million tons.
• Like Barapukuria and Khalashpir, Dighipara coal field also has a thick water bearing loose sand layer over the coal deposit.
• Within the Dighipara coal basin, five bore-holes were drilled by the GSB during 1995-2004
• The maximum drilled depth in Gondwana formation/ basement rock was 526 m.
• The coal deposits were encountered in all the five bore holes.
• Within the 323 to 408 m depth 6 nos. of coal seams were found.
• The average thickness of 5/6 seams are 61.71 m. Among these, seam no. II is the thickest, which is about 36 m.
• It is expected that the proven reserve of coal would be about 1000 million tonnes and probable reserve within 5 sq. km about 500 million tonnes.
• Dighipara coal is high volatile bituminous type.

STRAT EGY / Definition

Strategy is commonly defined as: “A careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time”

In more simple terms Strategy is defined as: “The skill of making or carrying out plans to achieve a goal”

Development of Strategy

• As defined earlier ‘Strategy is meant to achieve a Goal over a long period’.
• Unlike ‘Mission” and “Vision” statements, “Strategy” is not a ‘statement’ but consists of a series of actions laid out systematically in the form of Practices & Procedures and a system of implementation and monitoring the same.
• Before any “Strategy” can be formulated a ‘Goal’ needs to be spelt out.

Current Strategy of Barapukuria – ‘Goal & Strategy”

• Goal for Barapukuria and Dighipara can be stated as “Realizing full potential of the available Mineral Resource by benchmarking with the best International Practices & Procedures” 

• Current strategy for Barapukuria is: ‘Current Practices and Procedures being followed’

• Current Strategy for Dighipara is ‘To emulate and improve upon the Practices & Procedures being followed at Barapukuria’. 

Current Strategy of Barapukuria Assessment & Re-adjustment

• The ‘Current Practices & Procedures’ being the ‘Current Strategy’ at Barapukuria Coal Mine have been examined to detect the issues that inhibit the ‘Goal’ of ‘Realization of full potential of the Mineral Resource’
• Recommendations, suggestions and guidelines in this Report together constitute ‘Re-adjusted’ strategy for Barapukuria and proposed Dighipara Coal Mine.

RAPID ASSESSMENT

Experiences and incidents at Barapukuria Coal mine

Bottlenecks & Complexities – Operations Related Barapukuria

Horizon Control – Roof Coal layer

It is advisable to leave “Roof Coal Layer” above 1st slice of seam VI in view of the prevailing Strata  conditions at Barapukuria. Wardell recommends to leave 3.3m to 4.2m. CMC & XMC recommends to leave 10m to 12m.

In actual practice uniform coal roof layer has not been maintained:

• Panel 1101 – no coal roof
• Panel 1103 and 1105 – only 1.0 to 2.0m coal roof
• Panel 1110 – 14.4m roof coal
• Panel 1114 & 1116 – roof coal of 9m to 14m
• Panel 1111 – Roof Coal of 2m-4m,
• In the adjacent panel 1109 – a roof layer of 8m coal has been left.

Issues due to poor Horizon control

• Top 4.2m to 7.2m coal is of poor and inferior quality having numerous bands and mud stone parting.
• Irregular, uneven, non-equilibrium, undulating roof may have led to roof cavity formation, roof fall, high roof pressure in the gate roads, pressure in the side walls, etc.
• Greater water flow in the face is observed where roof coal is thin and less.

Metal Mesh False Roof

• Inclined slice longwall along the strike with caving and with a metal mesh artificial false roof was initially adopted at Barapukuria Coal Mine.
• But while developing face 1101 and then face 1110, metal mesh could not be laid. Since then the practice of laying metal mesh has been abandoned.

Bottlenecks & Complexities Underground Environment

• 1110 Longwall Advancing Face: 

Longwall advancing face (1110) had to be abandoned (September 2005) due to CO Concentration on account of spontaneous heating. Although, it was informed that there was no loss of life or equipment due to this incident, various reports mention that the Panel had to be sealed off with equipment.

• 1101 Longwall Face: 

During the development of belt-gate roadway,  with a temperature of 37.0 deg C  and 100% humidity, Miners experienced difficulty working under adverse environment.

1209 Longwall Face: 

Coal seam gradient in the face was 23.0 degree, return air roadway temperature was 40-41 deg C, face temperature was 46 deg C, groundwater flow in the face was 600m3/hr, humidity was 100% – very adverse working environment in the face,

• 1103 and 1104 Longwall Faces: 

Average temperature in the faces was 34 deg centigrade.

Accidents & Incidents

• 1105 Longwall Face: 

First pillar less face of Barapukuria coal mine. Severe roof pressure had developed in the return air roadway.

• 1108 Longwall Face: 

40m belt gate roadway had collapsed due to a huge roof-fall following a bump on 11 May 2010. Production was suspended for a period of 3-months.

• 1204 Longwall Face: 

Groundwater flow had increased up to 400 m3/hr. During the last stage of coal production, groundwater flow had reduced to 197 m3/hr.

• 1203 Longwall Face: 

Groundwater flow had increased upto 482 m3/hr. During the last stage of coal production, groundwater flow had reduced to 435 m3/hr.

• 1205 Longwall Face:

Abnormal water ingress at face was encountered resulting in complete suspension of face. Subsequently, 1205 has been re-started with conventional method instead of LTCC

Gaps – International Practices

Comparison with international practices can be made under the following heads:

• Basic Mine Planning and Design
• Execution of Planned development and Operations
• Mine safety and environment
• Monitoring and Documentation
• Training and development
• Employee Health and Safety

Basic Mine Planning & Design – GAPS

Barapukuria Coal Mine has been planned on a short term basis. This short term policy has been justified  by the mine planner showing the following reasons:

• lack of experience of Coal Mining in Bangladesh,
• untrained and inadequately educated and qualified staff and workforce,
• unpredictability of strata behaviour,
• adverse geological conditions,
• Aquifer over the entire coal mining area, etc.
• In the Basic Mine design it has been stated that it is possible to raise the upper mining limits of production and to increase the Mining thickness (Slices) for Mining of more coal.
• It is also indicated by CMC that with more detailed study, 30 to 36 m of Seam VI and even parts of seam V and IV could be mined.
• Additionally, seams currently categorised as ‘Potential Mining areas’ could also become minable.
• Preparation of ‘Life-of-Mine’ Plan has not been initiated despite acknowledging the necessity of such a Mining Plan  (the same has been suggested by Wardell Armstrong also).
• It has been well acknowledged fact in Commercial mining business that conservation and optimum recovery of resource demands a long term mining plan of say 10 years and a life-of-mine Mine plan.
• The coal field contains 11 seams. The upper section contains 5 coal groups of 9 seams, and the lower section contains 2 seams VI and VII.
• VII seam is partially minable
• Reserves lying within Seam VI open window and currently considered non-mineable are slated for mining during medium period of the mine.
• All future plans should continue to record this initial assessment of Mine designers CMC.

Execution of Planned Development and Operations – GAPS

Review of previous Mining assumptions 

The Mine Production was based on certain assumptions on working days, working shifts and working hours, etc., Review and Analysis is necessary to find out:

•  Whether 300 production days have been achieved?
• What is the actual achievement against planned 2 production shifts?
• What is the actual average Hoisting hour against planned 4 hrs per day?
• What is the actual productivity against planned 1.5 t per man shift?
• What is the service life of the mine left against the estimated 64 Years.?
• Mining operations though progressing as per the Current Contract do not compare well with similar operations elsewhere.
• There have been justifiable reasons for setting lower than optimum targets at the time of initial planning.
• The reasons being ‘lack of Coal Mining experience in Bangladesh’ and ‘adverse geological conditions’.
• Both these reasons seemed relevant at the time of Initial planning in 1995
• In past 10 years, experience has been gained in dealing with adverse Geological conditions. BCMCL management and workforce have gained confidence in their ability.
• However,
• “BCMCL is not ready yet to take over total charge of Mining Operations at Barapukuria, or are ready yet to undertake the planning and development of proposed Dighipara Coal Field independently”.
• The learning and development of Barapukuria own human resource falls short for an organisation of more than 10 years Mining experience.
• This is because of lack of Implementation strategy to achieve this objective.
• Both Wardell Armstrong and CMC’s basic design emphasises on systematically developing indigenous human resource.

Mines Safety & Environment – GAPS

Longwall Mining, Subsidence & Ecology

• Longwall Mining results in horizontal and vertical movement at the surface, which can extend beyond the mine footprint
• Subsidence, tilt, horizontal displacement, curvature and strain are the parameters used to define the extent of the surface movement.
• They form the basis for assessing the effects of subsidence on surface infrastructure.
• Longwall mining can result in a shallow flat-bottomed rectangular trough at the surface, sometimes accompanied by cracking, heaving, buckling, humping and stepping.
• These effects can impact roads and buildings as well as river courses and other surface water features.
• The amount of downward movement at the surface is generally 55 to 65 per cent of the mined seam thickness.

Subsidence Monitoring & Prediction 

• There is a long history of longwall mining in the world now, of working near sensitive environments and urban areas such as residential areas and reservoirs. As a consequence,
• procedures for the prediction, monitoring and assessment of impacts of mining have evolved to meet societal needs.

Subsidence Planning

• Longwall Mining results in planned subsidence.

Subsidence Prediction

• The general behaviour of the rock mass in the area of longwall is well established and understood.
• Suitable methods and models are available for subsidence prediction,
• Incremental Profile Method is the most commonly used experience based prediction model.
• This relies on monitoring during the early stages of mining and is generally the most reliable.
• Development of site-specific parameters to model and predict subsidence can support the initial prediction.

Subsidence Impact Assessment

• Subsidence impacts are site-specific. Each significant feature that can be affected by subsidence needs to be subjected to its own risk/impact assessment.
• Methods to prevent subsidence include backfilling of the void to support the roof strata and artificial pillars to support the roof.

Barapukuria – Subsidence Monitoring

• At Barapukuria field observations to measure ground level subsidence is being taken
• We understand that the analysis of the subsidence results is not being done or are not being shared.
• For Subsidence monitoring exercise to deliver results it cannot stop at surveying and plotting the ground profile.

Regulatory Situation

• Various countries have introduced Legislation requiring all underground coal mines to have a Subsidence Management Plan prior to commencing underground mining that may result in subsidence.
• The plans predict potential impacts of underground mining and identify how significant natural and built features are to be managed.

Subsidence & Stowing

• “In Barapukuria and Dighipara coal fields, huge reserves of coal are likely to be minimally exploited for their perceived adverse impact on rich agricultural surface rather than for cost benefits” 
• “Technical viability of stowing may finally emerge as the deciding factor between exploiting and abandoning badly needed coal in Bangladesh.”
• Stowing may provide a positive conclusion to Bangladesh’s emerging debate on
• ‘Whether coal generates more revenue and supports more livelihood than Paddy and fish farming on the land above?’
• Stowing may allow, Coal Mining as well as Paddy and fish farming to co-exist without disrupting the Community’s livelihood or for that matter obviate the need for ‘permanent rehabilitation and resettlement’ of the farming community of this thickly populated country.

Face Environment & Productivity

• The face productivity is constrained due to high temperature and humidity at the face. It has been conveyed that coal getting period would improve with better face environment.
• CMC, in the basic design reiterated the observations of Wardell Armstrong and dealt with the subject of Mine environment in detail.
• It is now required to prepare a status report to identify the areas that need improvement.

Monitoring & Documentation – GAPS

• In all modern Mines of today huge emphasis is given to documentation of its activities.
• Besides recording the history, the idea is to develop a system which allows Management to pay attention to significant activities.
• The experience over the years thus gets recorded for future reference.
• In mines set in such complex and difficult geological conditions Incidents and experiences out of normal and all deviations from planned procedures and methods are invariably taken after due deliberations, consultations and research after following a laid down protocol and after  obtaining approval from appropriate authority.
• In case of Barapukuria Coal Mine whether such a protocol has been formulated and if so whether it is followed is not clear. 
• The information made available to us is invariably from memory of some of the persons involved in the Management and operation of the Mine. 
• In modern day mining high production and productivity has become more of a demand than desire.
• High production and productivity is now dependent on mechanisation and use of Electrical power and consequently exposure to risk of accidents
• The risk increases not out of anxiety to produce more but also due to adoption of faster processes.

Barapukuria – Gaps in Documentation

• Inadequate recording of production details
• Technical Audit of Contract Compliance
• Documentation of Design-Change
• Monitoring  of Proposed Safety Measures
• Monitoring & Prediction of Overburden Damage and Subsidence
• Monitoring faults for changes

Gaps – Training & Development

• The importance of Training and development was well emphasized in the TEFS report of Wardell Armstrong.
• Due to limited time and scope of this study it was not possible to make any observation on the adequacy of training at Barapukuria.

It is advisable to appoint an independent agency to gauge the success of the efforts made in

this direction at Barapukuria Coal Mine.

Gaps – Employee Health & Safety

Accidents

• Accidents can be prevented by strategically and ethically implemented safety policy and programme.
• Although, accident takes place due to various reasons, it has been strongly felt that lack of emphasis on safety measures is the predominant factor.

Accidents

• Accident occur primarily due to inadequate attention on compliance of laws, and inadequate training of work person
• Safety is essentially an act of exercising self-regulation and restraint as well as following well-established route to achieve desired results.

Accident Prevention in Barapukuria & Dighipara

• It is recommended that a ‘Safety Management Plan’ be created for the existing Barapukuria Coal Mine and its impending expansion, which may well be a model for the proposed Dighipara Coal Mine.

Dighipara Coal Field Recommended Strategy

Dighipara strategy should be based on the experience of Barapukuria. Thus, should not repeat the same mistakes.

• Dighipara will also experience conditions like:
  • Working under aquifer,
  • Working in area of high geo-thermal gradient
• Unlike Barapukuria Dighipara should not be planned for ‘low production – long life’ ,
• ‘Life-of-Mine’ plan should be mandatory

Dighipara Coal Field

• Should develop a Bangladesh subsidence model (based on Barapukuria experience and data) and plan the Mine accordingly,
• Should aim to minimize subsidence .
• Resettlement of population, if required, should be temporary and for minimum period of time
• Longwall with stowing, Board and Pillar with stowing, room and pillar, Partial extraction (Sub-critical extraction widths) etc, are some of the methods which should be examined in all fairness.
• Opencast mining should be discouraged except in isolated small patches which allow for minimum resettlement of the population
• Bangladesh’s specific social conditions dictate that a unique model be developed which allows Mining, Paddy farming and fish farming to co-exist.

Dighipara Coal Field– Proposed Study

• Topographical survey of an area of 20 sq Km
• Conduct 2D/3D high resolution Seismic survey
• Exploration Boreholes to cover the entire basin
• Preparation of Geological Report
  • Geophysical logging of boreholes
  • Geotechnical analysis
  • Chemical Analysis
  • Hydrogeological Tests
  • Coal Reserves estimation
• Environment Impact assessment & Social Impact assessment
• Techno-Economic Feasibility study based on Barapukuria experience
• Life of the Mine conceptual Mine Plan
• Detailed Mine plan for a minimum of 10 years initially and rolled over for 15 years every 3 years
• Mine construction and development to match a linked Pit head power plant of appropriate capacity

Dighipara – Projected Cost Estimates

Activity	Cost Million BDT
Preliminary Survey & Topographical Survey	20.00
2D / 3D High Resolution Seismic Survey – area of 15.00 sq. km.	150.00
Exploration Drilling of 30-Boreholes	500.00
Geological and Geophysical logging of 30-boreholes	40.00
Geo-technical Investigations; Chemical Analysis; Hydro geological Tests, Pump Tests and other related and associated tests	50.00
Reserve Estimation; Economical & Financial Analysis of the Deposit; EIA & SIA, Training, Report Writing and Submission	30.00
ESTIMATED TOTAL COST:	790.00
Cost of Computer Generated 3D Geological Model of the Coal Resources	5.00
Estimated Cost of Mine Planning & Design	10.00
GRAND TOTAL COST OF FEASIBILITY STUDY:	805.00

Dighipara – Schedule

Activity	Duration
Topographical Survey & *High Resolution 2D & 3D Seismic Survey over an area of 15.00 sq. km.	six months.
*Drilling of 30 boreholes, geological & geo-physical tests, hydro geological investigation, pump-tests, chemical analysis, reserve estimation, EIA & SIA, Report writing	2 Years.
Report submission & Govt. approval:	Within one month of report submission.
Mine Construction, Mine Development	4-Years.
Commencement of Partial Production from Shaft-Sinking and Roadway Development	From the 3rd year of mine development.
Commencement of production to the tune of 2.00 million tons of coal	From the 5th year of mine development.
Commencement of Power Generation.	From 6th year of mine construction & development

Dighipara – Power generation capacity

Government of Bangladesh plans to generate 20,000 MW using coal, both domestic and imported, by 2030 (as per Power System Master Plan-2010)

Dighipara Coal Mine can support 500 MW Power Plant by 2023-24.

Apprehensions

• The original planning stage was that 36 M seam would be mined in 6 to 8 slices of 2.5 m each.
• After the experience of first 2 slices it is felt in most quarters that not more than 3 slices would be possible.
• The challenge now is to physically position 6 or more slices within the seam, which would depend accurately modelling the seam and accurately surveying and laying out the Longwall faces accordingly.
• In Southern districts more than three slices of 3 m each may not be possible. LTCC is possible with more exploratory drilling.
• Constantly fear of failure has forced a conservative mind set.

With more than 10 years’ experience the Mine operators could set aside their apprehension of the unknown and rely more on the confidence gained from experience during this period. 

Lessons – Advancing Longwall & Spontaneous Combustion

Wardell Armstrong in their TEFR were quite unambiguous in stating that:

“Retreat Mining has been adopted, where collapse of roof area of each panel is left behind the ventilation circuit and there is a much reduced risk of air leakage into the collapsed goaf”

Longwall advancing face was attempted in Panel 1110 where, spontaneous heating caused huge risk to the Mine and its workers.

It is not known:

• Whether the decision to go for Longwall advancing was taken after due consideration to the issue of ‘Spontaneous Heating’? If so, whether a formal document exists for such a decision?
• Whether a formal high level enquiry and investigation was conducted into this incident, and whether a report has been presented to the highest level of the Management.

Lessons – Face Environment

Wardell Armstrong in their TEFS had dealt with the issue of high face temperatures.

• It was also specifically mentioned that the uncomfortable conditions created by high temperature along with high humidity, could be dealt with by increasing the air velocities.
• They had also specified air velocities at various areas of the Mine in order to maintain comfortable working conditions.

(CMC in their basic design concur with these observations of Wardell Armstrong)

• It is not known whether the specified air velocity is being maintained at the face.
• Are records of face velocities and Face Humidity being maintained?
•  Whether alternate actions (like air conditioning) have been considered to improve the face environment?
• Are any studies proposed to improve the face environment conditions to improve workers’ efficiency and reduce accident proneness?

Recommendations for Barapukuria & Dighipara

Advice – Comprehensive Technical Document

A team of ‘Independent Consultants’ should study the “Wardell Armstrong” document and compare it with the current ground reality.

The report should present its findings under various heads, viz.,

• Changes, with respect to the original proposal,
• Changes, with approval of competent authority,
• Changes, without approval of the competent authority, and
• Proposals not implemented or yet to be implemented
• Wardell Armstrong and CMC have maintained that the areas not currently being considered could be considered in future. 
• Infrastructure built for the original life of the mine would now be available at a fraction of the cost for simultaneously exploiting the remaining coal reserves by other methods. 
• The abundant geological Coal reserves of Bangladesh should be treated as an all-time resource rather than immediate future resource or a techno-commercial resource.
• Utmost restraint should be exercised in accepting a Mining strategy which leads to ‘permanent losses’ or ‘sterilisation’ of the Good quality coal reserves.
• An independent agency should be appointed to simultaneously examine the future economic potential and prepare an independent assessment 
• Dighipara Coal field also has problems similar to Barapukuria Coal Field and thus should dealt with in a more comprehensive manner to realise better recovery of Coal reserves than is possible from Barapukuria.

Documentation & Monitoring Systems

• A documentation scheme as per International standards is advised for the following at Barapukuria and Dighipara Coal Mine:
• Health, Safety and Environment issues
• Plan document Modifications,
• Inquiries and Investigations,
• Breach of adopted Protocol, Practices & Procedures,
• Review and Modification of Protocol, Practices & Protocol,
• Other Major events

Safety Precautions in Mine Planning & Design

• In underground Mining the danger of water inrush, whether or not they are in the vicinity of an aquifer or water body always exist.
• Being aware of the dangers or being informed of the precautions against inrush of water is not enough.
• It is the system which ensures that the dangers are being monitored and that due precautions are being taken.
• It is advised that either the ‘Chief Safety officer’ or an ‘Independent Safety Advisor’ conduct an audit to report whether due precautions are being taken as prescribed by CMC in their ‘Basic Mine design’, and
• Periodically scrutinise the mechanism to test its effectiveness in ensuring compliance of prescribed precautions.

Recommendations …

Barapukuria Central Zone – Stowing

Wardell Armstrong in their TEFR had the following observations to make:

• The technique has been successfully used in the extraction of Thick seams in many countries and is still widely used in some. In-filling the void left after extracting the coal can reduce strata movements and increase the volumetric recovery of the seam.
• Stowing offers two major advantages – it reduces strata movements and risk of spontaneous combustion – as a result must be given serious consideration for eventual introduction at Barapukuria.

Longwall with Stowing ….

• It is strongly recommended that an independent agency be appointed to work out specific viability of adopting ‘Longwall with stowing” in certain areas of Barapukuria and Proposed Dighipara Coal Mine.

Social Impact

• In situations like Barapukuria and Dighipara coal fields, where huge reserves of coal are being very minimally exploited for reasons attributed to their adverse impact on rich agricultural surface rather than for any cost benefits, technical viability of stowing may finally emerge as the deciding factor between exploiting and abandoning badly needed coal in Bangladesh.
• After the extraction of first two slices there has been considerable subsidence, occurrence of fire, and problems arising out of high make of water.
• These problems are expected to be pronounced with mining of subsequent slices by caving.
• To ensure safer and sustainable Mining, Seam VI may be worked in Ascending order with stowing starting from bottom most slice.

Barapukuria Southern Zone

Recommendations ….

Southern Zone – Feasibility study

• Substantial recoverable reserves exist in the Southern districts.
• Appropriate Mining technology needs to be selected for exploitation of these reserves.
• These reserves can be accessed through the existing infrastructure at Barapukuria Coal field.

• It is possible that seam VI of Barapukuria Mine extends up to Phulbari Mine.
• The geology, structure and other details of seam VI in the area between Barapukuria and Phulbari Mines need to be firmed up by additional drilling.
• Open-cast mining does not appear as a viable option with such high initial depth and other associated issues.

Recommendations Southern Zone

Activity	US $ Million
3D High Resolution Seismic Survey over an area of 3 km2.	US $ 2.00
Exploration Drilling of 10-Boreholes	US $ 6.00
Geological and Geophysical logging of 10-boreholes	US $ 5.00
Geo-technical Investigations; Chemical Analysis; Hydro geological Tests, Pump Tests and other related and associated tests	US $ 4.00
Reserve Estimation; Economical/Financial Analysis of the Deposit/EIA/SIA/Training/Report Writing/Govt. Approval	US $ 3.00
Total Estimated Cost of the Feasibility Study	US $ 20.0

Northern zone

Recommendations ……

Barapukuria Northern Zone – Limitations

• Mining of VI seam in this area is likely to face serious problem due to uncontrollable flow of ground water in the mine from the UDT horizon due to absence/low thickness of LDT horizon.
• This area has been designated as “Open Window‟ area in the Basic Mine Design report prepared by CMC.

Northern Zone – Possible Mining Methods

• CMC in their ‘Modified Mine Design’ has proposed room and pillar method in 4 slices with parting of 10-12m between the slices.
• The Ministry of Energy, EMRD, Govt. of Bangladesh is considering extracting coal in the northern zone of Barapukuria Coal Mine by adopting open-cast mining.

Issues with Opencast Mining in Northern Zone

• Large scale dewatering of UDT aquifer through advance bore well and through mine sump during excavation will create significant draw down of water in the aquifer – subsidence in the vicinity.

Issues with Opencast Mining in Northern Zone, Barapukuria Coal Mine:

• Excavation will involve 94m to 120m thick UDT formation consisting of mainly sand beds, silt etc. The safe slope angles of the quarry high walls in UDT formation will be difficult to maintain.
• Slope stability for internal and external soil dumps will be difficult.

Issues with Opencast Mining in Northern Zone

• Geo-technical studies need to be carried out to assess the load bearing capacities of Madhupur clay, selected layers of UDT and LDT formations
• However, the bearing capacities of these beds are not likely to support the pressure exerted by earth moving equipment.

In addition to the above, severe environmental degradation will occur due to:

• Lowering of ground water table in the vicinity
• Sterilization of land by external spoil dumps, as high initial excavation will be required for touching the coal seam.

Northern Zone – Recommended Strategy

• In view of the conditions prevailing in Northern Zone (Open Window) and for developing a sustainable Socio Economic model for predominantly agriculture based community of Bangladesh it is strongly recommended to adopt underground mining in northern zone.
• Conventional longwall slicing (4-slices of 3.0m) in ascending order with stowing is recommended.

Socio – Economic & Political Issues

• Socio-economic issues due to Mining (world over) convert to a political issue in order to force governments and Mining companies to share economic gains.
• Populace can no longer be convinced on hastily assembled facts or figures.

Socio – Economic Issues – Response

• NGO’s supporting the cause of the community are more educated and aware of project issues some of which are genuine and some emotional (or Political)
• There is a need to engage with NGO’s on an intellectual level and also to educate them on their misgivings.

Rehabilitation & resettlement plan – Barapukuria and Dighipara

Rehabilitation & Resettlement

Land Acquisition

• Acquisition and Requisition of Immovable Property Ordinance, 1982 is the legal instrument for acquisition of land in Bangladesh.
• Affected persons of GOB funded projects get compensation under the Ordinance whereas those affected by co-financier funded projects get additional benefits for replacement cost of lost properties, relocation assistance, income restoration measures etc.

Land acquisition policy – Limitations

• Under the Ordinance compensation for acquired property is determined not on the basis of replacement cost but on the market value,
• The market value is normally less than the replacement value. As a result the displaced persons cannot resettle and restore their economic and social status.
• There is no provision for resettlement of the displaced persons in the Ordinance.

National Resettlement Policy

• The Land Ministry has taken up a project funded by ADB to develop a National Policy on Involuntary Resettlement.
• A team with highly experienced members have developed a draft National Policy on Involuntary Resettlement and Rehabilitation – 2008.
• Despite a considerable amount of uncertainty caused by any Mining Project People and Mining have managed to co-exist for centuries.
• The best but the most difficult option is when the community does not have to be rehabilitated but still economically benefits from the Mining Project.
• In case of underground Mining the ideal scenario is to take out the mineral with minimal damage to the land
• Longwall slicing in ascending order with stowing greatly reduces land damage due to subsidence
• There may not be need to acquire land. BCMCL can only requisition the land selectively and for temporary pre-specified periods.
• Need for compensating the land owner will be substantially minimised as the land owner may continue to use the land.