Present Scenario of Mineral Resources in Bangladesh: A Compact Analysis (part 2)

Oil:

The only oilfield of the country has been discovered at Haripur in 1986 that is located in near Haripur in the eastern hilly district of Sylhet, but these have yet to be developed. The Haripur reserves are estimated at 40 Mbbl, with a recoverable reserve of about 6 million barrels and the total resource is likely to be much higher. For meeting the total requirement of commercial energy, Bangladesh imports yearly about 1.3 million metric tons of crude oil.

Coal:

As well as natural gas, Bangladesh has significant coal reserves. Coal first discovered in the country by Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) in 1959 was at great depth. geological survey of Bangladesh (GSB) continued its efforts for exploration that resulted in the discovery of 4 coalfields. BHP Minerals, a US-Australian the company, discovered a field in 1997 totaling 5 coalfields. Coal reserves of about 3.3 billion tons comprising 5 deposits at depths of 118-1158 meters have been discovered so far in the north-western part of Bangladesh. The name of these deposits are-Barapukuria, Phulbari and Dighipara coalfield in Dinajpur district, Khalashpir in Rangpur district, and Jamalganj in Joypurhat district. Out of which 4 deposits (118-509 meters) are extractable at present. As an alternative fuel to natural gas, coal can be extensively used. The depth of Jamalganj coal deposit is 640-1158 meter with 1053 Million Tones in-situ coal reserve where production may not be viable by the present day’s technology due to the depth of the deposits. Possibilities of extraction of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) need to be explored from these coal deposits. Government is actively reviewing the law to be applicable for Exploration and Production of Coal Bed Methane. So far, only Barapukuria coalfield is under production. Details of the coalfields and quality of the coal are shown below.

The development of underground Barapukuria Coal Mine, one of the five fields, started in June 1996, which was scheduled to be completed in May 200l, but due to some changes in mine design it will take some more time. Exploitable coal reserve of Barapukuria is 64 million ton and annual production has been estimated to be I million ton A power station will be set up with a capacity of 300 MW using this coal.

BHP Minerals have discovered the Phulbari coalfield in January 1997. The right has later been transferred to an Australian company, Asia Energy Corporation (AEC), to develop the mine. AEC is now working for a detailed feasibility study for open-pit mine development whose initial annual production will be 2.9 million ton that will later be 9 million ton. Coal imported from India, China, and Indonesia is mainly consumed in brickfields both in public and private sectors, and in small industries.

White Clay:

 White Clay occurs in Sherpur, Netrokona, Dinajpur and Chittagong district etc. and it is used to make crockery’s, sanitary materials, insulator and tiles.in addition, it is also used in Paper, cement and sugar industries. There are surface to near surface deposits of white clay in Bijoypur and Gopalpur area of Netrokona district, Nalitabari of Sherpur district, Haidgaon of Chittagong district and BaitulIzzat of Satkaniaupazila, Chittagong district. Besides, there are subsurface deposits of white clay in Maddhyapara, Barapukuria, Dighipara of Dinajpur district and Patnitala of Naogaon district. The showing white clay is not good in quality that is used in the ceramic factories of Bangladesh after mixing with high quality imported clay.

         White clay, Netrokona

Glass sand:

Important deposits of glass sand of the country are at Balijuri (0.64 million ton), Shahjibazar (1.41 million ton) and Chauddagram (0.285 million ton) at or near the surface, Maddhyapara (17.25 million ton) and Barapukuria (90.0 million ton) below the surface. Glass sands consist of fine to medium, yellow to grey quartz. Total deposit is about 109.58 M ton. Glass sand is used to make crockery’s, lenses, glass sheet of windows and doors. It is further used to make quartz clock, frame of boat and aero plane, foam glass and in various electronic equipments etc. Silicon chips are also made from silica, which is a main ingredient of glass.

There are two types of glass sand according to geological status.

1.     Recent piedmont alluvium in the eastern zone.

2.      Underground glass sand in the northern zone.

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   Glass sand, Comilla (Chauddagram)

Limestone:

It occurs in Sunamgonj, Takergat, Jahanpur, Paranagor, Joypurhat and St. Martin’s Islands. Limestone is a very important mineral resource for Bangladesh. It is primarily used in cement industry. Limestone is used to make lime and cement and in paper, Ispat, sugar, glass industry. It is also used to decorate the building In Bangladesh limestone is found in Taker Ghat, Lalghat and Bangli Bazar of sylhet area, Jaypurhat and Saint-mertine of Cox’s Bazar district. The lime stone of Takerghat limestone mining project is supplied to Chattak Cement Factory. In the early 1960s, a quarry of limestone of Eocene age with a small reserve at Takerghat in the north eastern part of the country started supplying raw materials to a cement factory.

In 1960s GSB discovered a new limestone deposit in Joypurhat at a depth of about 515-541m below the surface with a total reserve of 100 million ton. In the mid 1990s GSB discovered limestone deposit at a depth of 493-508 and 531-548m below the surface at Jahanpur and Paranagar of Naogaon respectively. Thickness of these deposits is 16.76m and 14.32m respectively.

Ilmenite, Garnet, Zircon, Kyanite, Magnetite, Rutile, Leucoxine, Monazite:

All these are found in Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf Beach, Kuakata Beach , Moheshkhali, Nijhum dwip, Kutubdia and Monpura Island. Ilmenite, Rutile and Leucoxine are used to make slag and in welding and in melting of metal. They are used as a dyeing subject and Refractory Brick. Ilmenite is used to make sand blasting and heavy mud as an alternative to Barite in drilling activities. Titanium metal, which is derived from this mineral, is used to make frame of aeroplane, missile, and in chemical reaction and salt removal process. Zircon is used to make foundry sand, Refractory brick and as a dyeing substance. Zirconium is used as a radioactive substance.Monazite is used to make catalyst, television tube, refractory substance, thermal insulator substance and in computer disk and line printer.

Peat:

Deposits of peat occur at shallow depths in different low-lying areas of Bangladesh like Gopalganj, Madaripur, Khulna, Sylhet and Sunamganj district etc. the reserve of dry peat is about 170 million tons. In 1953, a large scale of peat was discovered at Baghia-Chanda Bil in Faridpur and at Kola Monja in Khulna. The major deposits are in greater in the districts of Faridpur (150 million tons), Khulna (8 million tons). Peat requires drying before making briquettes for use as fuel. It is used as an alternative fuel to household, in brick and lime industries and in thermal power plant, and it requires drying before making briquettes for use as fuel. Petrobangla implemented a pilot project for extraction of peat and making briquettes but the result were discouraging and not economically feasible at current stage.

Peat

Table Peat deposits and quality

Source Asian Mining Year Book (Seventh Edition), 2001

Hard Rock:

It occurs at Maddyapara in Dinajpur district and has been discovered by GSB (Geological Survey of Bangladesh) at depth 132-160 m below the surface. The Rock Quality Designation (RQD) of fresh rock varies from 60% to 100%. The Maddhayapara project is extended over a wide range of area, from Baborgonj and Mithapukur of Rangpur district to Fulbari and Parbatipur of Dinajpur district and its capacity to recover 1.65 million ton hardrock every year.  It is used in construction such as road, highway, and railway track, regulator dam, river training, and river bank erosion. It is also used as construction material and as mosaic stone

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Hard Rock, Dinajpur

Gravel Deposit:

Deposits of gravel are found along the piedmont area of Himalyas in the northern boundary of Bangladesh. It occurs in Lalmonirhat, Panchagar, Sylhet district, Greater Chittagong and Chittagong Hill Tracts. These river borne gravels come from the upstream during the rainy season. It is used to construct buildings, road, railway, bridge and in river training and flood control. A total reserve of gravel is about 10 million cubic meters.

Metallic minerals:

GSB has carried out investigation for mineral deposits and succeeded in locating a few potential zones. Relatively high content of metallic minerals like chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite, covelline, galena, sphaleriteetc have been found in the core samples from the north-western region of the country.

Construction Sand:

It is very much available in the river beds through out the country. Sand consists mostly of quartz of medium to large grains. It is extensively used as construction materials for buildings, bridge, roads all over the country.

Beach Sand:

This may be potential source in the future.  Deposits of beach sand have been identified in the coastal belt, and in the coastal island in Bangladesh. Deposits of beach sand have been identified in the coastal belt and in the coastal islands of Bangladesh. Different heavy minerals and their reserves (in ton) are: Zircon (158,117), Rutile (70,274), Ilmenite (1,025,558), Leucoxene (96,709), Kyanite (90,745), Garnet (222,761), Magnetite (80,599) and Monazite (17,352). An Australian company has applied for the permission to carry out the feasibility study for exploitation

Brick Clay:

In Bangladesh the mineralogical, chemical and engineering properties of Pleistocene and Holocene brick clays of Dhaka, Narayanganj and Narsingdi districts are well documented. The bulk chemistry and engineering properties of the Holocene and Pleistocene samples have been found satisfactory for manufacturing good quality bricks. These are being exploited and widely used in the country.

Black Gold:

Black gold is a very valuable mineral resource. Among it, the main are zircon, monazite, riotile etc. It is discovered in Cox’s Bazar sea beach.

Name of the Mineral	Place	Estimated Reserve (Probable) (million ton)	District	Remarks
Coal	#Jamalganj #Barapukuria #Khalashpir Dighipara	1053 300* 143 150	Joypurhat Dinajpur Rangpur Dinajpur	#Development of Barapukuria Coal field is going on. Discovered in July/, 1995.
Peat	Baggie Chanda Kolamouza Chatalbil Paula, Sunamganj Moulavibazar	150 8 6.21 3.50 3.00	Gopalganj Khulna Sunamganj	Instead of fuel wood may be used as fuel.
Limestone	Jaypurhat Bagalibazar #Takerghat Lalghat Naogaon	100 17 12.9 12.9 --	Jaypurhat Sunamganj Sunamganj Sunamganj Naogaon	#612371 tons of limestone from Takerghat have been exploited During 1972-93
White clay	Barapukuria #Bijoypur Maddyapara Dighipara Patnitala	25 25 ** **	Dinajpur Netrakona Dinajpur Dinajpur Naogaon	#109541 tons of whit clay from Bijoypur have Been exploited during 1972-93
Glass sand	Barapukuria Maddyapara Bhatera Shahajibzar & Bahubal #Chaddagram Baljiuri Dighipara	90 17.25 8 .30 .17 **	Dinajpur Dinajpur Moulvibazar Habiganj Comilla Sherpur Dinajpur	#94773 tons of glass sand have been exploited during 1975-93.
Hard rock	Maddyapara	115 (Exploited)	Dinajpur	Mine development activities is going on.
Gravel deposit	Bholaganj Tetulia Patgram Chittagong Hill Tract	4 2.5 2.5 1.00	Sunamgaj Pachagarh Lalmonirhat Chittagong	Gravel deposits are being exploited from different places of the country.
Mineral sand	Sea beach of Cox's Bazar, Moheshkali, Kutubdia and Kuakatha.	--

 *Reserves are in million tones except that of gravel which is in million cubic metre.
**Reserves have not yet been estimated.

Present Scenario of Mineral Resources in Bangladesh: A Compact Analysis (Part-one)

Introduction 

Geographically, Bangladesh occupies a bigger part of the Bengal basin and the country is roofed by Tertiary folded sedimentary rocks (12%) in the north, northeastern and eastern parts; uplifted Pleistocene residuum (8%) in the northwestern, mid-northern and eastern parts; and Holocene deposits (80%) consisting of unconsolidated sand, silt, and clay. The oldest exposed rock is the Tura Sandstone of Palaeocene age but older rocks like Mesozoic, Paleozoic amid Precambrian basement have been encountered in the drill holes in the northwestern part of the country. The imperative mineral deposits of Bangladesh are natural gas, coal, limestone, hard rock, gravel, boulder, glass sand, construction sand, white clay, brick clay, peat, and beach sand heavy minerals because of its different biological environments. Tertiary Barailshales stirring within the oil and gas windows have generated natural gas and oil found in Bangladesh

Sustainable mineral resources are still playing, a vital role in shaping the modern civilized industrial world. Modern urbanization, industrialization, transportation, and communication systems are the achievements of worldwide sustainable mineral resource development and their proper utilization in various sectors. The richness in natural resources is the key indicator of socio-economic infrastructure for any country all over the world. Strong technological know-how,  its ability to explore and exploit mineral resources, and its wisdom in utilizing those resources properly in the development activities of the nation. The developing world is generally far behind compared with the developed world in the sense of development activities. Bangladesh is a small country; it has a number of mineral resources such as natural gas, oil, coal, hard rock, limestone, white clay, glass sand, and mineral sand. At present, natural gas is the only mineral commodity significantly contributing to the national economy. The majority of the country’s energy needs are met by gas that is about 90%.

Energy is the key ingredient for socio-economic development of a country and economic development depends on the adequate energy supply that leads a country self-reliant. Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources divided into two departments namely Energy and Mineral Resources Department and Power Department. Energy and Mineral Resources Department that entrusted to make all policies connected to natural gas, liquid petroleum, and mineral resources. MRD is responsible to create policies and administrative control over the Geological Survey of Bangladesh, Petrobangla, Bureau of Mineral Development and Department of Explosives. Hydrocarbon Unit and Bangladesh petroleum Institute is controlled and watch over by EMRD. 

Mineral Map of Bangladesh

Present scenario of Mineral Resource in Bangladesh: 

Natural Gas:

Natural gas has a vital role to play in our socio-economic development as a rudimentary source of energy. Its widespread use in power, fertilizer, industry, and household has made it the energy of choice in Bangladesh that accounts for about 73% commercial energy of the country. It is pretty cheaper than other conventional sources of energy that we import from abroad. The use of indigenous natural gas has, indeed, helped to accelerate the pace of economic development and improve the quality of our life in the country. So far in Bangladesh 25 gas fields have been discovered with the rate of success ratio is 3.1:1 of which two of the gas fields are located in the offshore area. Gas is produced from 20 gas fields (79 gas wells), 15 are state-owned and the remaining operated by international oil companies. Currently, Chevron contributes more than half of Bangladesh's total gas production.

Bangladesh gas sector started its journey in the early 60s, but its rapid expansion and integration stared to accelerate in the 70s spurred by the rising oil price. Total recoverable proven and probable gas reserve from discovered 25 gas fields has been estimated as 27.04 TCF out of which estimated proven recoverable reserve (P1) is 20.70 TCF and recoverable probable reserve is 6.39 TCF. Up to December 2013 as much as 11.92 TCF gas has been produced leaving only 15.12 TCF recoverable gas. Currently 19 gas fields are in production and out of 104 wells located in 19 gas fields, 84 are in the stream. A total of 600.86 billion cubic gas (BCF) was produced in FY 2007-2008, 653.57 BCF in 2008-2009, 703 BCF in 2009-2010, 708.92 BCF in 2010-11, 743.57 BCF in 2011-2012 and  805.67 BCF in 2012-13.

The demand for gas has already surpassed 2700 MMCF per day whereas the peak supply of gas is nearly 2287 MMCF leaving a shortfall of 413 MMCF per day. Against this backdrop, Petrobangla has drowned time-bound program to boost up gas production in the coming days, and with this end of view, short the term, midterm and long term (up to 2015) have been taken up for enhancing gas production to and an additional amount of 1560 MMCFD with in the year 2015 as envisaged in the road map. Meanwhile, a volume of about 593 MMCFD of gas added to the natural grid.

Average daily gas production capacity is about 2000 mmcfd of which International Oil Companies (IOC) produce 1040 mmcfd and State-Owned Companies (SOC) produce 960 mmcfd. The gas production recorded on 24 February, 2010 was 1996.7 MMCFD. At present the daily approximate projected gas demand throughout the country is 2500 MMCFD. The demand is increasing day by day. Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) has already undertaken an array of short, medium, fast track and long term plans to increase gas production to overcome prevailing gas shortage. According to this plan 188 mmcfd, 290 mmcfd, 995 mmcfd (including 500 mmcfd LNG), 500 mmcfd and 380 mmcfd gas will be added to the national gas grid by the year 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015 respectively. After completion of these plans production capacity is expected to increase to about 2353 mmcfd gas by December 2015. To increase the gas production more programs will be taken in near future. Bangladesh's natural gas output increased only by 110 million cubic feet per day to 2.26 billion cubic feet per day until June 2013 from 2.15 BCF per day in June 2012, Petrobangla data indicated. Amid annual estimated demand growth of 10 percent, the country's entire recoverable gas reserves of 16.36 trillion cubic feet are expected to continue to 2025 and beyond, although in short supply. In a forecast of gas supply scene from the existing gas fields, production is expected to increase and reach its peak in 2016. As the demand for gas continues to grow, the gap between demand and supply will continue to widen as the production begins to decline after 2016. But if the natural gas consumption rate should exceed that 10 percent growth estimate, Bangladesh's reserves won't last more than a decade.

The government's decision for overproduction raises questions since it came without measuring the capability for overproduction of a gas field. In 2009, when the Awami League came to power, the country's gas supplies hovered around 1850-1900 mmcfd, a few hundred mmcfd short of the demand. Over the next five years, the supplies increased up to 2,250 mmcfd due to increased production by the national gas companies. Chevron alone provided 250 mmcfd. And now it is investing half a billion dollars to increase Bibiyana Gas Field's production by 300 mmcfd by early next year to address the country's gas crisis. Experts believe that this might cause Bibiyana to collapse just as Sangu did in the past. Besides overproduction, the lack of proper management and surveillance also poses some problems.

 

How Natural Gas Sector Evolved:

The search of oil and gas in the area constituting Bangladesh began in the later part of the 19th century through some isolated geological mapping. The first serious attempt to find oil and gas was undertaken in Sitakund in 1908 by the Indian Petroleum Prospecting Company. During 1923-31 Burmah Oil Company (BOC) drilled two shallow wells in Patharia. The wells were abandoned though there was a reported occurrence of oil. A total of 6 exploratory wells were drilled, the deepest being 1047 meters. There was however no discovery and the Second World War disrupted further activity.

Gas exploration activities started in this region in the 50s when some multinational companies we active after oil find in Assam following world war two. Pakistan Petroleum Ltd discovered gas at Chiknagul,Haripoor Sylhet. Unfortunately Sylhet 1 was a blow out .There is a crater and a pond around burial of thedrill rig where gas is still bubbling out for almost 60 years. Sylhet 2 was a relief well drilled to contain blowout .Sylhet 3 was the first producer. Around same time gas was also discovered in Chatak. Around sametime Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation planed to set up Natural Gas Fertilizer Factory at Fenchuganj and Cement Factory at Chatak. Gas of Sylhet gas field and Chattak were utilized for these setting up treatment plants and constructing gas transmission pipelines. That was PPL which after independence became BPL and now Sylhet Gas Fields Ltd. That was the beginning of gas era in this part of the world. During Pakistan days Anglo Dutch oil Giant Shell discovered Titas, Habiganj, Rashidpoor, Bakhrabad, Feni and Kaillashtilla. But other than Titas and Habiganj none of the other gas fields were developed. Brambanria Demra gas transmission pipeline was built by French Company GTM for Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company a company registered under company act under EPIDC. The market was very limited Shidhirganj Power plant and some domestic and commercial customers.

Petroleum Product:

Bangladesh imports annually about 1.3 million metric Tons of crude oil. Besides these, another 2.7 million metric Tons (approx) of refined petroleum products per annum is imported. Condensate is mixed with crude oil. Major consumer of liquid fuel is transport sector followed by agriculture, industry and commercial sector which is mostly met by imported liquid fuel. Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL), a subsidiary company of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), is capable of processing 1.3 million metric Tons of crude oil per year.

Compressed Natural Gas:

CNG vehicles were introduced in 1997 to reduce the dependency on imported fuel, environment pollution and to save foreign currency. Number of CNG refueling Station is 587 and 180 conversion workshops have already been set-up in the country. Total number of CNG converted vehicles is 172683 except theses 53579 CNG vehicles was imported. Total number of CNG vehicles is 213059 as of 2011-12 fiscal years. The proportion of buses and minibuses running on CNG was above 75%.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas:

LPG can be used in remote areas where access to gas pipeline is difficult and expensive but there is a demand of gas. To lessen the dependency on imported oil and thus to save foreign currency, the use of LPG has to be popularized. Currently the supply of LPG of the country is 95,500 Metric Ton of which production in Public Sector is 22,500 Metric Ton while Production in Private Sector is 73,000 Metric Ton. The Possible demand of LPG in the country is 2,00,000 M. Ton. Government has reduced tax rate on some appliances to popularize the use of LPG.

Continues………… …