State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid emphasised utilising local coal through using improved technology for betterment of the country in an environment-friendly way.
Coal will play a pivotal role as the primary energy source to ensure the country's future energy security. The faster the country's energy security can be ensured, the faster the country will grow, he added.
Mr Hamid was speaking at a deal-signing ceremony on Tuesday between the state-run Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd (BCMCL) and a consortium of Mibrag Consulting International GmbH of Germany, Fugro Consult GmbH of Germany and Runge Pincock Minarco Ltd of Australia.
Under the deal, the consortium of German and Australian firms will carry out a feasibility study for development of Dighipara coal-field from June 01, 2017 to September 30, 2019.
The study aims at estimating the geological and mineable reserves and resources of Dighipara coal-basin in details. Dighipara coal-field was discovered by the state-run Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) in 1995. Dighipara has an estimated coal deposit of 865 million tonnes.
If this coal can be explored commercially, it will improve the socio-economic condition of the region, said Mr Hamid.
BCMCL secretary Md Abul Kashem Prodhania, Mibrag's project manager Amir Khondker, Fugro's project director Rolf Baltes, and Runge Pincook Minaroo Limited official Simon Askey Doran inked the deal on behalf of their respective firms.
Energy Secretary Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, German Ambassador Dr Thomas Priznz and Australian High Commissioner Julia Niblett spoke on the occasion.
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Source: The Financial Express