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The new phase of Barapukuria Coal Mine is expected to yield around 300,000 to 380,000 tonnes of coal, as extraction resumed on Sunday evening after a suspension of two months and four days.
Khan Md Zafar Sadik, general manager of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited, confirmed the development to journalists on Sunday, saying full-scale extraction began after the completion of necessary technical preparations.
The mine had remained closed for underground coal extraction since August 12, when coal reserves in the previous phase were exhausted. A total of 415,000 tonnes of coal had been extracted from that phase.
“Trial extraction from the new No. 1405 phase began early on October 16. Following the completion of technical preparations, full-scale extraction resumed on Sunday evening, restoring operations after the prolonged suspension,” he said.
During the shutdown, engineers and mine workers transferred heavy machinery and modern equipment from the No. 1309 phase to the new one. They also developed underground safety structures and completed various technical renovation works.
Sadik said the new phase was considered highly sensitive and technically complex because of underground geological conditions and other technical challenges.
Although trial extraction began on October 16, additional time was required to prepare the phase for full-scale production, he added.
Regarding existing stocks, the general manager said more than 600,000 tonnes of coal were currently stored at the mine’s main coal yard, against its normal storage capacity of around 320,000 tonnes.
Despite the surplus stock, extraction from the new phase would continue to ensure coal supplies to the thermal power plant when it resumes operations, he said.
