Madhyapara mine sets new stone production record

Madhyapara hard rock mine in Dinajpur has achieved a new milestone in stone extraction, recording its highest-ever monthly production after extracting more than 150,000 tonnes of stone in October, excluding holidays.

Mine officials said the achievement marked the highest monthly output since the mine began commercial operations.

Germania-Trast Consortium (GTC), the contractor responsible for the mine's development, operation and production, has been overseeing its activities. According to mine authorities, production has steadily increased since the company took charge.

Sources at the mine said production gained momentum following the signing of the second-phase contract with GTC for the operation, production and development of the mine. As a result, more than 150,000 tonnes of stone were extracted during October, with average daily production reaching nearly 6,000 tonnes on working days.

Commercial stone extraction at Madhyapara began in 2007. Initially, daily production stood at only 400 to 500 tonnes, far below the required level. The mine incurred losses for years due to its inability to meet market demand.

However, after GTC took over operations, initiatives were undertaken to increase production capacity under the supervision of foreign mining experts. These efforts helped boost output, enabling the mine to overcome its losses and move towards profitability, according to mine officials.

More than 1.5 million tonnes of stone of various sizes are currently stockpiled at different locations within the mine, sources said.

The increased production has created greater opportunities to use locally produced stone in the country's infrastructure development projects. It could also help save a substantial amount of foreign currency currently spent on stone imports.

Despite the rise in production, high transportation costs remain a major obstacle to stone sales, people concerned with the mine's operations said.

They believe that rehabilitating the railway line from Bhabanipur to Madhyapara would make rail transportation of stone possible. This would significantly reduce transportation costs and facilitate the supply of stone to different parts of the country.

Lower transport costs would benefit buyers and help accelerate sales, they added.

Mine authorities and other stakeholders have therefore called for the speedy renovation of the Bhabanipur-Madhyapara railway line, saying improved rail connectivity would make marketing easier and increase the mine's revenue.

Local residents said the initiative to establish Madhyapara stone mine was taken by late president Ziaur Rahman. Following his death, the project lost momentum. Later, after the BNP formed the government in 1991, fresh initiatives were taken to advance the project.

Mine sources said the facility had initially struggled to achieve its expected production targets after commencing commercial operations, resulting in continued losses. Production conditions improved after GTC assumed responsibility and introduced various technical and management measures.

Managing Director of Madhyapara Granite Mining Company Limited, DM Zobaid Hossain, said the mine authority and the contractor were working together to increase stone extraction.

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“Necessary measures have been taken to boost domestic production. The mine's production and overall activities are being carried out in line with the policy guidelines of the current government,” he said.

Mine workers and stakeholders expressed hope that continued government support and cooperation from all concerned parties would help sustain the production growth under GTC's management.

They also said improvements in stone marketing and transportation, alongside increased production, would be essential to making the mine a profitable and sustainable enterprise and enabling it to play a greater role in the country's economic development.