(BSS) – Coal extraction has resumed at the new phase of Barapukuria Coal Mine in Parbatipur upazila of the district after a suspension of two months and four days.

General Manager of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited Khan Md. Zafar Sadik confirmed the development to BSS on Sunday, saying full-scale coal extraction from the new phase began on Sunday evening after the completion of necessary technical preparations.

He said the mine had remained closed for underground coal extraction and production since August 12, when coal reserves at the previous phase were exhausted. A total of 415,000 tonnes of coal had been extracted from that phase.

“Trial extraction from the new No-1405 phase began early on October 16. Following the completion of technical preparations, full-scale extraction resumed on Sunday evening, restoring operational activity at the mine after the prolonged suspension”, he added.

During the shutdown, engineers and mine workers successfully transferred heavy machinery and modern equipment from the No-1309 phase to the new phase. They also developed underground safety structures and completed various technical renovation works.

Khan Md. Zafar Sadik said the new phase was considered highly sensitive and technically complex due to underground geological conditions and other technical challenges. Although trial extraction began on October 16, it took additional time to prepare the phase for full-scale production.

According to preliminary estimates by engineers, the new phase is expected to yield around 300,000 to 380,000 tonnes of coal.

Regarding the overall coal stock, the general manager said more than 600,000 tonnes of coal were currently stored at the mine`s main coal yard, against its normal storage capacity of around 320,000 tonnes.

Despite the surplus stock, coal extraction from the new phase has been kept operational to ensure supplies to the thermal power plant when it resumes operations, he said.