The Coal & Coal Mining–its environment,
pollution, management and economics
Engr. S.M.Nurul Aurangajeb, P Eng.
Deputy General Manager( Surface Operation)
Barapukuria Coal Mining Co.Ltd
1
Introduction
“It is impossible to make some one better off without
making another one worse off”-So, a mining activity may
lead to harm to the surrounding environment as well as
to the population, but a lot of benefits it renders.
The Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) discovered
coal deposits in Northwest of Bangladesh, in a rural
agricultural setting.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) addresses in a
comprehensive and open manner,
An Environmental Management Plan is to be developed
and maintain to address likely impacts, mitigation action
plans, monitoring management of risks, and schedules.
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If this natural resources are not used, they will lie
underneath which will have no economical value at all.
But the activities involved in a coalmine development
require more precaution, abiding by the safety rules
strictly and environmental regulations precisely.
An eco-friendly environment as well as prosperous
economy, which would eventually contribute to building
macro economic stability and growth.
A socio-economic appraisal of a coalmine requires vast
investigation and study, applying management,
economics and engineering theories.\
To address certain issues applying international norms,
practices and engineering, managerial and professional
experiences.
3
Necessary to develop in parallel with technical issues, a
comprehensive environmental and social impact
assessments in a process of consultation with all
stakeholders, demographic and socioeconomic,
resettlement, town planning, operational information
centre, government and community consultations etc.
Design and operation plans of the mine, site
rehabilitation, resettlement and mine closure shall be
developed in consultation with the relevant stakeholders
and driven by sustainable ecological and social
principles. Using mining industry ‘best practice’
procedures; following environmental and social
safeguard policies (on such issues as resettlement,
ethnic minority people and cultural property) the mining
method is deduced.
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Underground mine Development
Establishment of Safety→ Shaft sinking→ Ventilation system in
place → Pit bottom Development → Substation Building→
→ Main Road Way Development→ Coal road way Dev. →
→ Equipment installation → Trial running → Coal Production
5
Open Cut Mine Development
Establishment of Dewatering System → Water Recharging →
→ Removing Over Burden → Making access to coal →
→ Coal Extraction → Refilling etc.
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Underground Coal Roadway and
Support System
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Typical Coal Face Powered Roof Support
8
Underground Road way Development
Drilling →Blasting →Rock bolting / Wire Meshing / I-steel support
→ Drainage system →Local Ventilation System →
Some Typical Equipment and Coal
Transport
Shearer →AFC →Crusher→ Stage Loader→ Belt Conveyor→ Coal
Bunker →Hoisting →Surface Coal Silo
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U/g Mining
•Long wall
•Board and Pillar
•Top Caving
•etc
Open Cut Mining
•Stratified
•Non Stratified
•Horizontal
•Inclined
•etc
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The Coal Mine & Coal Reserve:
.
After techno-economic feasibility study a Coal mine and
mining technique are under taken.
The Coal seam generally lies in between rock layers.
Earlier adopting Underground mining technology.
Open cut coal mining - overburden removal- yielding
near about 95 percent or more-less hazards
Roadways are developed through the bottom layer of
rock
Horses used for carriage, and shovels, spades for
extraction
Electric locos blasting & fully automated machines used
Huge production with less physical efforts.
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The Coal
The Coal deposits formed during the geological age of Permian
era.
Decomposition of trees, shrubs, shale and other living matter.
Lignite very raw and vegetable matters more distinct.
Bituminous Coal better with less smoke, high calorific value.
The final phase anthracite best in quality with high calorific
value, high carbon content, low ash, low sulfur content and low
in other impurities with high specific weight.
Coal surfaces dull in nature & some with presence of glazy
vitreous substances.
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Mineral Resources in Bangladesh
13
Typical Underground Long wall Mine
Plan
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The uses of Coal
Mainly for generating electricity. Also for steel mills, brickfields,
loco engines, steamer i.e. to drive mechanical devices and
other factories using heat for their production.
Specification of Coal
Can be designated mainly as per carbon content and heating
value. Carbon content main determinant of heating value less
impurities & moisture content.
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Coal reserve in Bangladesh
To present about 5 deposits discovered
Coal
Basin/Area
Year of
Discove
ry
Depth of Coal Cumulat
Seam
ive
thicknes
s of coal
seam
No. of
coal
seams
Area of
coal
fields
Reserve
in Million
MT
Comment
s
Barapukuria
1985
118-509
61
6
6.68
390
Adopted
undergrou
nd mining
Phulbari
1997
141-270
38
5
24
572
Proposed
to open
cut mining
Khalashpeer
1989
257-451
40
6
5.75
400
Study
going on
Deeghipara
1995
328-455
61
5
-
600
Study
going on
Jamalgonj
1962
640-1158
64
7
11.7
1053
CBM
possible
Kuchma
1959
-
-
-
-
-
Reserve
not
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calculated
Coal Reserve Equivalent to Gas
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The consequences of mining activities
Subsidence
Water table lowering.
Water pollution.
Roof fall.
Toxic gases
Underground fire-hazards.
The fire originating from external heat sources
The fire ignited by itself
Dust pollution and explosion.
The health hazard of dust.
Combustion and explosion.
Methane explosion.
Land slide.
Earth dust.
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Total World Electricity Generation in
2004 (% by fuel)
Oil
6.7%
Other
2.1%
Nuclear
15.7%
Coal
39.8%
Hydro
16.1%
Gas
19.6%
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Environment & Social Management
Environmental management and rehabilitation -integral
parts of the mining process;
Specific management plan is to be integrated into a
comprehensive Environment Monitoring Plan (EMP) that
identifies management resources and incorporates
environmental commitments identified in the EIA.
Environmental and social management plans for regular
annual reporting to the GoB and other relevant
stakeholders.
The Mine’s EMP will ensure that:
Sufficient money and personnel resources allocation to
manage mine operations and potential impacts on the
surrounding environment and community;
The EMP updates -a fully integrated document, including:
-Biophysical monitoring and performance:
Social impact management;
Mining operations and rehabilitation and Mine closure
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Some Environmental Protection
Regulations
According to environmental quality standards of Bangladesh
(1991) -smoke extraction standard SPM 500mg/m3, S02 120
mg/m3, CO 5000 mg/m3, NO 100 mg/m3, and noise standard
is 75 dba. Sanitary sewage discharge standard is neutral PH
value, SS<100 mg/L, BOD5 < 40 mg/l, temperature is below
30ºC, colibacillus is no greater than 1000 pcs/100ml.
Air pollution discharged from underground roadway by main
fan, which contains mainly dust and gas, smoke discharges
from the boiler house.
Environmental Management Resources.
-Sufficient money and personnel resources to ensure that the
EMP effectively implemented and managed.
Under the Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE)
Management, there shall be specific persons working on
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environmental management of the mine.
Major impacts on environment and population :
Since the mine operation as well as development emerge some
sort of pollutant during blasting operation, advancing the
roadway, roof fall for underground mine, water inrush for both
underground and open cast mine, methane explosion, the gas
content, surface subsidence level for underground mine, total
water management should be carefully monitored and proper
measures should be taken as and when required basis.
Various data should have to be collected, analyzed & classified.
Ultimately a methodology could be derived, formulated &
implemented and a trade off been arrived, arisen from
development & operational work and the economic benefits
result.
Land acquisition and population displacement.
-The minefield has to acquire a large area of land for mining
activities.
This will require displacement of the population . Nevertheless,
measures will be implemented during all phases to minimize
population displacement as much as possible.—Leaving coal
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pillars.
Land acquisition will occur in accordance with the regulations of
the Acquisition and Requisition of Immovable Property
(Amendment) Act 1994 or by special legislation.
Households and businesses from this area according to a
phased resettlement program that will run for over a
considerable time.
Resettlement Planning.
- Mine Entitlement Matrix that details resettlement and
compensation entitlements;
-Development plan for ethnic minority groups;
-Township and surrounding villages; and
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Key features of the social environment
The estimated main social impact from activities will be in the 5
kilometer Zone.
- a homestead is often occupied by an extended family (father
and married sons) and typically consists of a few houses and
outbuildings surrounded by fruit trees;
-Males head most households.
-Ethnic minority groups.
Agriculture (mainly rice production) underpins the local
economy and is an important source of livelihood and income
for farm, non-farm and landless households.
Trade, transport and manufacturing are important non-farm
sources of employment and income.
Business and trading activities of a non-agricultural nature
include furniture builders, jewellery, factories, bakeries, oil mills,
brickfields, rice mills and smaller cottage industries such as
blacksmiths, potters and jute work;
There are archaeological sites, NGOs and community based
organizations (CBOs) that participate in a wide range of
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activities.
Mine rehabilitation
-Money is available for rehabilitation works.
Resettlement options
A basic principle in the planning of the resettlement program is
to be given affected persons a choice of resettlement options,
so as to minimize the risks associated with involuntary
displacement. These options are outlined below:
-Resettlement to the new extended Township or to designated
upazila village relocation sites. Residential and business plots
will be provided, as will infrastructure, services and utilities.
Resettled households would be able to choose between the
provision of replacement housing by the Project, or
-Cash compensation for constructing their own houses.
-Establishment of new villages to which ethnic minority
households from the various villages in the mine displacement
area can relocate.
Township and village relocation sites.
The development of the new town and villages will be
constructed in stages in response to the development of the25
mine and the progressive relocation of the villages.
Livelihoods, employment and income.
-The acquisition of land will have substantial impacts on the
livelihoods and income-generating potential of all households
and businesses within the mine displacement area, both
agricultural and non-agricultural. Livelihood related impacts that
may occur include:
i) Fair compensation for the loss of land, buildings and other
assets;
ii) An annual dividend for certain years to landowners with legal
title, calculated on the basis of the size of their acquired
landholding;
iii) A one time grant for lost income;
iv) Additional assistance to re-establish livelihoods (e.g.
training).
v) Enactment of a local recruitment policy to enable direct
employment for project-affected people; and
v) Establishment of a trust fund for community development
projects.
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Benefits of a Mine project
The Mine is required for the following reasons:
-Supports GoB Objectives.
-New Local Energy Alternative.
-New Source of Electricity.
-Domestic Markets.
-Economic Considerations
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The issues to be addressed
1)Technological consideration
2)Safety aspect
3) Managerial consideration.
4)Social economic consideration
5) Environmental consideration.
1)Technological consideration
The mining method:
1.1) Under ground mining
1.2) Open cut mining
2) Safety aspect
2.1). Safety and Mitigation measures from the hazards resulting
in development and production activities:
In underground Coal mine the trapped methane in the Coal seam
may become explosive if the percentage explosives are blasting
and is diverted to return roadway. becomes more than 5%-16% &
in presence of any fire source it explodes. So, methane
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concentration is kept below the explosive mixture.
2.2)Total safety system
-Self Rescuer
-Safety boots, Helmets, Mine Lamp etc
-Safety Training
3) Managerial consideration
3.1) Efficient Mine operation.
3.2 Institute and resettlement management resources.
3.3) Waste pollution and its utilization:
3.4) Disposal of solid garbage:
4) Social economic consideration
4.1) Organization Establishment.
-Social/cultural practices.
4.2) Cultural, religion, historical and archaeological sites.
4.3) Vulnerable groups.
-Establishment of a Community Development Trust Fund;
5) Environmental consideration.
5.1) Treatment of surface subsidence:
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5.2) Ground Greening:
Conclusion
The open cut mining method a new concept in Bangladesh but
is a proven technology .
The underground mining method used extensively having rich
aquifer with aquiclude.
The region generally flood free; comparative low population
density; underlain by low salinity, arsenic free groundwater.
A large amount of baseline data to be monitored through
preparation of detailed mine design and during the mining
operation.
The concern technically, environmentally, economically and
socially manageable.
Establish World’s best practice management systems for
reporting to mine management and the GoB.
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Recommendations
We must explore the earth to search for an alternative
one. For this a coal mine is inevitable. If the coal mines
are not developed, they will remain unutilized, thereby
inefficient utilization of mineral resources, depriving
people of a huge employment opportunities, pushing the
country economically backward.
However, some remedies against environment pollution
may be recommended based on study, general ideas,
norms and practices.
It may be executed through extensive training,
comprehensive research as well as educating the people
up to the level best.
1.ESP or other dust collecting equipment
2.Some neutralizing gaseous substance to lessen the
harmful effect of the exploded gas.
3.To recharge underground water from the surface.
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4.Dampers or other acoustic materials may be
provided
5.Tectonic movement and other features should be
monitored
6.Help re-establish some wetland and native forests for
a biodiversity corridor;
7. Develop a strategy for improved rural livelihood
and biodiversity;
8. Promote women’s entrepreneurship;
9.Provide necessary training for development of
skills.
10.NGO’s may be employed for Resettlement.
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Thank You
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