UNB, Dhaka

Experts at a workshop on Friday stressed that Bangladesh should finalise its coal policy at the earliest saying the existing gas reserves would start getting exhausted from 2015.

The country would have to create alternative sources of fuel before complete exhaustion of the gas reserves, they told a workshop in Dhaka.

Weekly Economic Times organised the workshop for the North Bengal Mineral Resources Reporters Forum at Press Institute of Bangladesh. Coal experts Eng Mainul Hasan, Eng Kamrul Islam, journalists Ataus Samad and Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, among others, addressed the inaugural session of the workshop with Economic Times editor Shawkat Mahmud in the chair.

'The country will start facing gas crisis from 2011 and it'll take a severe turn in 2015. Though it'll take 30-40 years more to finish the entire gas reserves, but we need to go for mining coal quickly to avert the possible crisis,' chief adviser special assistant for energy and power M Tamim told reporters on the sidelines of a workshop.

Referring to debate on coal extraction method, Tamim said had Bangladesh thought about its huge coal resources before intervention of foreign companies, there would have been no controversy or debate in this regard. 'It's unfortunate that we start thinking about one thing after foreigners intervene in it.

We couldn't collect coal from Fulbari coal mine due to debate about how it'll be extracted. Had we thought about the necessity of alternative fuel before, we could have reached a consensus about the coal mining method,' he said. Tamim said the day is not far way when there will be no gas for use, then what will happen to our industries and households.

'We must realise the necessity of coal as an alternative source of fuel.' Asked when the pending coal policy will be finalised, he said the government was now studying the draft of the coal policy. 'It's very difficult to say about the timeframe of its finalisation, but I hope it'll be finalised during this caretaker's time.'

Referring to the Fulbari movement against coal extraction by open mining system, some speakers stressed the need for ensuring rehabilitation of the people who will lose their lands and homes after the start of mining.

Ataus Samad said the people need to be convinced that they will not be affected by the coal mining, as the government will have to rehabilitate them in line with their expectations.Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said the government will have to make sure that not a single person is affected in the name of any national development.

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