Beneath the quiet agricultural landscape of Pirganj in Rangpur lies a long-standing but largely untapped story of coal reserves and iron-rich mineral deposits, now drawing renewed attention from policymakers and experts.
원본 콘텐츠
Recent reviews of historical data, alongside ongoing exploration, have highlighted the significant potential of the Khalashpir coalfield and surrounding areas. However, officials said that comprehensive feasibility studies were still needed before any commercial extraction can begin. Interest in Khalashpir dates back to 1959–62 when the then Geological Survey of Pakistan first identified coal potential in the Gondwana Basin during exploratory work in the area. Further exploration by Geological Survey of Bangladesh in 1989–90 involved drilling four wells across a 25-square-kilometre area. Three of these confirmed the presence of high-quality bituminous coal at depths between 257 and 451 metres. Initial estimates indicated around 143 million tonnes of coal within a 2.52-square-kilometre zone. Later studies suggested significantly larger reserves, according to official document. In 2006, a study by CJMDC estimated approximately 705.69 million tonnes of coal across a ...