Coal extraction at the Barapukuria coal mine in Dinajpur has resumed after a one and a half month halt. However, despite the restart of production, the coal yard is currently overloaded with a large stockpile of coal, raising concerns over space constraints and the continuity of coal extraction.
According to mining sources, coal extraction was temporarily stopped from June 23 because the stock at coal phase 1305 was exhausted. After one and a half months, on August 9, extraction restarted at the new coal phase 1406 following equipment installation. The target from this new phase is approximately 400,000 tons. This information was confirmed by Khan Md. Jafar Sadik, General Manager (Mining) of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited.
From January 23 to June 23 this year, about 501,000 tons of coal were extracted from the old phase 1305. Since the coal stock was depleted, extraction was paused to move equipment to the new phase. Officials expect that during the first week, daily extraction will be 1,500 to 2,000 tons, increasing later to 3,000 to 3,500 tons per day.
Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant is the sole buyer of the mine’s coal. However, due to various mechanical issues, this 525 MW plant has been operating below capacity and has never been able to run all three units simultaneously. As a result, it cannot consume the entire coal output from the mine, leading to a massive coal stockpile in the coal yard.
The coal yard has a storage capacity of 240,000 metric tons, but currently holds about 400,000 tons. The government decision of 2018 stipulates Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant as the sole coal buyer, but its inability to consume the entire output has caused the stockpile to swell.
Khan Md. Jafar Sadik noted that the mine produces 800,000 to 1,000,000 metric tons annually, but the power plant can only use a maximum of 700,000 tons each year. This results in an excess of more than 300,000 tons being stored in the coal yard annually. With the stockpile now doubled the yard’s capacity, the space shortage could lead to a halt in coal production in the future.
Engineers point out that coal, being combustible, should not be piled higher than 5 meters. However, due to space constraints, the coal heaps have grown to 15-20 meters in height. Despite regular water spraying, there have been several fire incidents in the coal yard. Engineers warn that with the growing stockpile, there is a risk of a major fire outbreak at any time.
