Coal production from the country's lone operational underground coal-mine at Barapukuria in Dinajpur remained suspended for the last one month over the coronavirus pandemic and expiry of tenure with the contractor concerned.
Electricity generation from the adjacent Barapukuria coal-fired power plant came down to around 155 megawatts (MW), which is less than one-third of the overall generation capacity of the plant (525 MW).
The state-owned Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd (BCMCL), however, is confident to continue supplying coal to the mine-mouth power plant with its storage coal for next several months.
"We have coal stocks of around 250,000 tonnes in the coal yard, which can help generating electricity until December," BCMCL managing director (MD) Md Kamruzzaman Khan told the FE on Tuesday.
He said the power plant currently consumes around 1,700-1,800 tonnes of coal every day.
During the peak demand, the coal-fired power plant takes around 2,500 tonnes of coal a day for electricity generation, and during winter it takes around 1,200-1,300 tonnes of coal, said Mr Khan.
Coal production from the coalmine has remained shut since July 25, as many Chinese as well as local employees were unwilling to continue work amid the spread of deadly coronavirus.
Coalmine development and production agreement between the BCMCL and the Chinese contractor CMC expired on August 10.
"We have extended the contract period under current terms for two more months until September 30," said the BCMCL MD.
However, steps have been taken to ink a six-year coalmine development and production agreement deal afresh with the Chinese contractor under the Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special Provision) Act 2010, he added.
The law has a provision of providing immunity to those involved with quick fix solutions.
Regular and increased volume of coal extraction from the Barapukuria coalmine would be possible after inking the deal, Mr Khan expected.
Coal extraction from the coalmine started in late 2005 under a contract between the BCMCL and the CMC.
The CMC have been the lone contractor of the mine to develop and extract coal. It has already completed three terms of its job till date.
During the first contract period from 2005 to 2011, average annual coal production was around 600,000 tonnes. During the second contract period from 2011 to 2017, average annual coal production was around 900,000 tonnes. During the third contract period from 2017 to 2021, average annual coal production was around 850,000 tonnes.
Around 5,000 tonnes of coal will be required every day, if the Barapukuria coal-fired power plant runs in its full capacity.
The currently operational third unit of the plant will require 2,800 tonnes of coal alone, if it runs in full generation capacity of 275 MW.
The Barapukuria coalmine produces high quality bituminous coal with very negligible sulfur quantity. Heating value of Barapukuria coal is around 11,040 British thermal unit (Btu) per pound.
Azizjst@yahoo.com