The New Nation - Internet Edition

BRICK manufacturing and steel re-rolling mills, the major consumers of coal, reportedly use around 7 million tonnes of the mineral annually. Bangladesh meets this demand with coal imported from different countries, mainly India. But the sulphur content of imported coal is more than 1 percent, which exceeds the official permissible level. In view of this importers tried to bring coal from Australia and Indonesia in 1995. But the traditional coal exporters offered a significant price cut to local importers. Since then, none attempted to import coal from any other source.

Even superior quality coal more of less pollutes the environment. Burning of sub-standard coal generates excessive sulphur dioxide which, mixing with clouds, causes acid rain with extremely harmful impacts on air, soil, plants and animals. In the absence of alternative sources of superior quality coal, restriction on the use of sub-standard coal did not work in the past. Bangladesh is thus compelled to suspend restrictions. According to experts, Bangladeshi coal is of superior quality and contains less sulphur. There is the potential to meet internal demands from domestic reserve.

But, it is alleged, the policy makers are not giving adequate emphasis on acceleration of coal mining. The adoption of a new coal policy is advancing at a snail's pace. To conserve the environment from pollution by restricting the use of sulphur-rich coal, mining of local coal has become urgent. The use of local coal will not only help keep pollution at a low level but also save hard-earned foreign currency. The use of this natural resource has become urgent also on another score. The present recoverable reserve of natural gas may last only another four years. Otherwise, if the gas resource depletes Bangladesh would face energy crisis of insurmountable proportions.