Coal Extraction From Barapukuria Resumes

Coal extraction from Barapukuria coalmine resumed Monday after two months as the government moved to generate 250 megawatts from coal-fired plants to ease power crisis in the upcoming Boro season, an official said Monday.

“We have started coal extraction from a new coal seam after a halt of about two months,” managing director of the Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd (BCMCL) Abdul Aziz Khan told the FE.

The newly appointed Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) M Tamim inaugurated coal extraction from the new seam in Barapukuria mine in northern Dinajpur district.

“On the first day, the company extracted more than 1000 tonnes of coal. But the average coal extraction from the mine might go beyond 2,000 tonnes a day from next week,” he added.

The new coal seam is fourth of its kind in the Barapukuria coalmine having a total coal reserves of 3,75,000 tonnes.

Total coal reserve in Barapukuria underground coalmine is around 390 million tonnes, of which only 64 million tonnes are recoverable. Some 1.13 million tonnes coal has so far been extracted from the mine.

“We have planned to extract the entire coal reserve from the fourth seam by June 2008,” Aziz said.

The coal will be used to fire the two coal-based power-plants, with a total capacity of 250 megawatts, as the government needs to pump up power supply in the upcoming Boro season.

“We hope the two plants can start generating electricity from tomorrow ( Tuesday),” he added.

Since its inception in September 2005 the two coal-fired power plants could hardly run in full swing mainly due to inadequate coal extraction from the adjacent Barapukuria coalmine.

The government had to import coal from India to run the two plants for a while.

A Power Development Board (PDB) official said the resumption of power at the coal-based plants will ease loadshedding in the northern region during the crucial Boro season.

“We hope the resumption of Barapukuria plants will ensure uninterrupted power supply for the farmers,” the official said, adding they need power to irrigate farmland.

Electricity demand will increase by around 1,000 MW during the boro irrigation sea son, which is only weeks away, as power is needed to run at least 250,000 irrigation now in operation across the country, he added.

Source: The Financial Express

Significant Discovery of gas layers at Shahjibazar by BAPEX

The news of discovery of two new significant gas layers in one of our prolific gas field at Shahjibazar, Habiganj is so heartening at a time when the nation is struggling to overcome the massive devastation of Cyclone Sidr. It is more thrilling and exciting in the sense that our own Bangladesh petroleum exploration and development company (Bapex) field crew under management of our own BGFCL has successfully done this work. This will start changing our vision and apprehension that our gas resource will soon run out. It also underlines the necessity further appraisal of our major gas fields obtaining more accurate information through 3D seismic study.

It will still take a while to determine the extent of the reserve and required numbers of additional wells that should be drilled for optimum recovery. This gas field was discovered in 1962 by Shell and initially two wells were drilled and treatment facilities set up for supplying gas to Shajibazar power plant in Pakistan Days. After independence following creation of Petrobangla this gas field along with Titas, Rashid poor, Bakhrabad and Kaillashtilla was taken over from Shell through the great vision of Bangabandhu at a very nominal cost of 10 million US$. Gas supply to tea valley project was the first initiative to exploit this gas field further. A 6”OD Shahjibazr –Shamshernagar Gas transmission was built to supply gas to the tea gardens in Laskarpoor, Dargaon, Sreemangal valleys and adjoining towns. In late seventies this field was further developed to supply gas to Zia Fertlizer Factory at Ashuganj. The author was one of the four Titas Gas Engineers involved in the Construction of the 12”OD cross country gas transmission pipeline from Shahjibazar to Ashuganj. The next round of development happened with Second Gas Development project. PIU drilled development well and North South pipeline was linked with Habiganj Gas field production facility. The author featured as Project Manger of Habiganj –Ashuganj Loop line in 20010-2.At one sage Habiganj from 10 wells all drilled in the same pay sand used to pro duce 260-270 MMCFD.One of the well is understood to have watered out and from nine wells this field still produces about 246 MMCFD.It is the third largest producing field in Bangladesh. Only Titas and now Bibiyana have higher capacities.

According to Bapex Geologist Mizanur Rahman the production testing at deeper pay sand at 3083 -90 Meters and 3144- 50 meters yielded positive result. Both Bapex and BGFCL sources claimed that the test results evidence a significant increase of proven reserve of the gas field and accordingly the ultimate recoverable reserve will increase.

When Bangladesh is desperate for new success in exploration for gas this is definitely a great relief. For Bapex it is a significant success. This achievement will go a long way in silencing the critic s of Bapex. We always believed that there is no point in looking for IOCS to explore in our on shore prospects. If Bapex did not get unfair treatment from our energy bosses it could very well taken care of all onshore exploration and development works. The experienced professionals that Bapex lost over the years could change the upstream matrix by this time. If we take into account the dilapidated rigs and other obsolete facilities that Bapex has to work with we must give them additional credit. This much focused Government must immediately do everything possible to make Bapex a leading exploration company of choice. Modern drilling rigs, latest seismic equipments must be acquired soon. Training facilities of Bapex professionals must get priority. Separate pay package must be provided to the competent professionals. The unnecessary manpower’s may be made redundant and fresh line professionals should be recruited. Two Bapex rigs must constantly carry out development and appraisals of our discovered gas field and one rig must be dedicated for exploration.

We understand Bapex has been authorized to develop Semutang, & Begumganj Gas fields. They will also drill development wells at Salda and further explore at Srikail. Necessary funds should be immediately released. The author considers that Bapex should also be authorized to further develop Bakhrabad and Titas Gas fields following the 3D Seismic survey that will be carried out soon. Bapex must also get preference as drilling contractor for any further IOC drilling activity on shore. The share of Bapex may also be let out through local stock exchange to raise its capital. Bangladeshi expatriates also would love to buy Bapex share and contribute in its development. If ONGC starting much later than us can develop into an international exploration company of choice there is no reason why Bapex can not do that. We just need proper vision and proper mission to do that. Bapex under the present visionary MD appears to be in the right track. It is the frontal force of Bangladesh Gas sector. It must get proper care of attention and never again get maltreatment.

Good luck to Bapex. Nation looks forward to hear further success stories of Bapex.

This news is a part of following sources article.

Source: http://www.energybangla.com/article_det.asp?aId=838, Author: Saleque Sufi

Japanese entrepreneurs keen on developing gas, coal sectors in Bangladesh

Japanese entrepreneurs are interested in joining the effort to develop Bangladesh’s gas and coal sectors — the two potential fields of energy, reports UNB. Japan-Bangladesh Joint Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation (JBCCEC) Chairman Koji Nojima leading a nine-member JBCCEC delegation met Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Mir Nasir Hossain Wednesday and spoke about the interest of Japanese entrepreneurs in this regard. They discussed the potential and problems of cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan under the umbrella of JBCCEC, which was established between Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and FBCCI in 1980. Nojima is now visiting Bangladesh to attend the inaugural function of the 3rd Japan Trade Fair 2007, beginning in the city today (Thursday) to promote new products of Japan. Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) organised the fair in association with the Japanese Embassy, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and Shoo-Koo-Kai. During the meeting, Nojima mentioned his long involvement in Japanese cooperation with Bangladesh and expressed his shock at the devastation caused by the cyclone. After his return to Japan, he would urge the JBCCEC members to contribute to the relief operations for the cyclone-affected people.

In response to Nojima’s remarks, FBCCI President Mir Nasir Hossain said he had high regard from him, as he had been acting as the catalyst in Japan’s cooperation with Bangladesh. He mentioned that the volume of trade between Bangladesh and Japan in 2006-07 amounted to $899.63 million, an increase of 20.54 over last year. This year, exports from Bangladesh to Japan were worth $147.47 million and imports into Bangladesh from Japan $752.16. Mir Nasir underscored the need for exploring ways from both the sides for further strengthening trade relations. He also mentioned that Japanese investment so far in Bangladesh was $1.2 billion and urged more investment for infrastructure development. The FBCCI president briefed the Japanese delegation leader about the newly-formed ‘Better Business Forum’ and called for greater market access for Bangladeshi products to Japanese market. Japanese Ambassador in Bangladesh Masayuki Inoue, JBCCI vice presidents Hideo Ueno and Abdul Haque, JBCCI Secretary General AKM Moazzem Hossain and Momohito Kinomoto and Yoshiteru Honda of JETRO were among the delegation members.

Source: The Financial Express.