Chief Advisor''s special assistant in charge of Power and Energy Dr. Tamim Wednesday said engineering, environment and geological conditions should dominate the decision in determining the coal mining methodology, reports agency.

Addressing a seminar on "Sustainable Energy Development in Bangladesh - Coal as an Alternative Source of Energy", he said the methodology should be mine-specific and that should be decided on three conditions.

Economic analysis should also be worked out to ascertain its viability as well. Five major coal deposits have been discovered in northwest Bangladesh since1959.

The fields are located at Jamalganj, Barapukuria, Khalaspir, Phulbari and Dighipara. State-owned oil, gas and mineral corporation - Petrobangla - organized the seminar at its auditorium to have expert opinions to help adopt a national coal policy, draft of which is now under review before taken to the Advisory Council.

Indian coal mine expert Professor Dr. Ajoy Kumar Ghose made the keynote presentation analyzing the geological, technical aspects and the possible mining methodology. The total coal resource in Bangladesh is estimated at 2.5 billion tones, convertible into reserves when found recoverable.

He said among the coal mines, the Barapukuria, Phulbari and part of Khashpir should be developed through open pit mining method due to their techno-geological conditions.

"Sites should dictate what methodology to be exploited," he said in his lengthy deliberation. Replying to a question on environment, particularly about dewatering issue and its solution in open pit mining, he said water re-injection is an established technology to address the problem.

He termed the Phulbari coal mine as ''crown jewel'' in coal inventory of Bangladesh that would help transform the economy of the nation. He said quality of Bangladesh''s coal is better than Indian coal as its ash contents are 16-19 percent while Indian coal''s contents are 40-45 percent.

Recipient of national awards for his outstanding performance in Indian coal sector Dr. Ajoy suggested that Bangladesh needs a sound, enduring national energy policy where coal will have a dominant role to play.

He said that unless Bangladesh strikes some rich gas deposits in near future, sustainable energy development and economic growth could be in serious jeopardy.

He said coal deposits in the northwest offer a window of opportunity, if only these deposits are harnessed in accelerated manner. BUET Professor Nurul Islam, Dhaka University Professor Badrul Imam and other geology experts took part in the seminar.