Dhaka, April 2, 2026 — The government will take a final decision on coal extraction from the Khalashpir coalfield in Pirganj, Rangpur only after completing a full feasibility study, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood has said. Report BSS
Responding to a written question in Parliament from lawmaker Md. Nurul Amin (Rangpur-6), the minister outlined the history and potential of the coalfield, emphasizing the need for careful evaluation before moving forward with extraction.
He noted that coal deposits in the Khalashpir area were first identified during geological surveys conducted between 1959 and 1962 within the Gondwana basin. Later, the Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) carried out drilling operations in 1989–90 across a 25-square-kilometre area, discovering high-quality bituminous coal at depths ranging from 257 to 451 meters.
Initial findings identified approximately 143 million metric tons of coal within a 2.52 square kilometer area. Further exploration conducted in 2006 by the China-Bangladesh Joint Mining Development Company (CJMDC) expanded the estimated reserves to around 705.69 million metric tons across 7.62 square kilometers.
The minister added that a joint initiative by Hosaf International Ltd. and a consortium of Shandong-Ludi and Xinwen Mining Group carried out a techno-economic feasibility study between 2005 and 2006, during which 11 additional boreholes were drilled. Preliminary data from these studies suggest that the Khalashpir coalfield may contain around 685 million metric tons of coal within a 12.25 square kilometer area.
In 2009, the government’s Hydrocarbon Unit appointed the UK-based International Mining Consultants Group Consulting Limited (IMCGCL) to review earlier feasibility assessments. The review identified several limitations and recommended conducting a comprehensive and updated feasibility study before making any final decision on coal extraction.
The minister reiterated that the government will proceed cautiously and base its decision on the outcome of this detailed study.
On a related note, he also informed Parliament that initial geological surveys have indicated the presence of iron-rich minerals in Shanerhat and nearby areas of Pirganj. Further drilling and laboratory analysis are currently underway to determine the commercial viability of iron ore extraction.
