Govt to prioritise domestic coal, stone over imports

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku on Tuesday said the government will prioritise the use of domestically produced coal and stone to reduce dependence on imports.

He said imported coal and stone would only be brought in after meeting demand through resources extracted from local mines.

The minister made the remarks on Monday during a visit to the Barapukuria Coal Mine and the Madhyapara Granite Mining Company in Dinajpur. He also inspected the Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant and exchanged views with officials concerned.

He said the previous government had followed an import-dependent policy, which weakened domestic institutions and increased reliance on foreign sources. The current administration, he added, has taken steps to strengthen local resource management and boost domestic production.

He further said that proper utilisation of the country’s mineral resources would help save foreign currency and strengthen industrial and energy security.

Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, State Minister Anindya Islam Amit, National Parliament Whip Akhtaruzzaman Mia, and lawmakers Syed Jahangir Hossain, Sadiq Riaz Chowdhury Pinak and AZM Rezwanul Haque were present during the visit, along with senior ministry and power sector officials.

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A stakeholder consultation meeting on the power and energy sector was also held the same day at the Barapukuria Coal Mine.

During the meeting, Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited (BCMCL) Managing Director Shah Alam presented an overview of the current condition of the coal mine. Discussions focused on existing challenges, prospects and development strategies in the power and energy sector, with participation from local representatives, district administration officials and other stakeholders.