Barapukuria power plant remained operational during this time
Mining was halted for equipment transfer, replacement
After a shutdown lasting one month and 13 days for a well replacement, mining at Barapukuria Coal Mine has resumed.
Mining began on Thursday afternoon at the new phase No 1412 of the coal mine, which is said to have 210,000 tons of coal.
According to sources in the coal mining industry, extraction was halted at phase No 1113 of the country’s sole operating coal mine on August 29 after 375,000 tons of coal had been extracted.
Subsequently, the equipment from that phase was moved to the new phase No 1412. Finally, after around one and a half months, coal extraction from the new phase began on Thursday.
The coal extraction process occurs in phases, where once the coal reserves in a phase are finished, that phase is closed, and a new one is opened.
During this transition, equipment from the old phase is transferred to the new one and readied for coal extraction, a process taking 40-45 days. If there are defects in the equipment, additional time is needed for the installation of new equipment. Consequently, coal mining remains suspended during this period.
However, the cessation of mining has not impacted the Barapukuria coal-fired power plant, which was operational even during the shutdown. When mining stopped on August 29, the coal mine yard and thermal power plant yard had 110,000 tons of coal, sustaining the thermal power plants until now.
Barapukuria Coal Mine Managing Director Engineer Saiful Islam Sarkar said: “Production has resumed after one month and 13 days due to the collective efforts of all involved.”
Source: Dhaka Tribune.