Truth about Bangladesh Coal Mine Royalty rates & Asia Energy Pleasure Trip for Journalists

A BANGLA IT Report:

Extraction of Phulbari coal adopting open-pit mining method is the main focus, but we are not talking about how much Bangladesh will miss in royalty.

My request to all Bangladeshi Citizens and Journalist by giving example of It's the economy, stupid was a phrase in American politics widely used during Bill Clinton's successful 1992 presidential campaign against George H.W. Bush. So think about "The Economy"

In the existing rule there is a provision for fixing 5-6 per cent royalty for Bangladesh government while the last draft coal policy cited about 16-17 per cent royalty.

Our next door West Bengal, which levies a cess of around 25 per cent on coal produced in that State.

Reference:
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2002/07/31/stories/2002073101821100.htm

Adopt a provision for leasing out coal fields through competitive bidding process and selecting the bidder who will give the highest and best proposal in terms of royalty and technicality.

Don't forget protests erupted prviously across Bangladesh over Asia Energy plan to develop a coal mine, a day after six people were killed in police firing during a demonstration.


Subject:Asia Energy's pleasure trip for journalists from New Nation 08/02/07

As a last effort to obtain green signal from the government over the Phulbari Coalfield issue the Asia Energy Corporation (Bangladesh) Pty Ltd has organised a pleasure trip for some journalists who report on energy issues to entice them to write in favour of the company.

Some 7 to 8 reporters will leave Dhaka for Frankfurt on August 4 for a four-day trip led by Asia Energy's Media and Communication specialist Mahmud Hafiz, a former energy reporter of a vernacular daily.

During the trip Bangladeshi journalists will visit the coal plants of the Rheinisch-westfalisches Elektrizitatswerk AG (RWE AG), a German based coal extracting and electricity producing company. Asia Energy will sponsor the expenses of the trip.

One of the members of the trip yesterday said, " It seems that Asia Energy is geting the green signal from the government immediately. Energy Secretary and other high officials of the government are in favour of the company."

The government cancelled the coal exploration deal with the Asia Energy following a mass demonstration in Phulbari, Dinajpur where scores of people died as the law enforcing agencies opened fire.

Most of the citizens in the country opposed the deal with the Asia Energy, as country's interest was not saved in the agreement

The government expert commitee on Phulbari Coalmine project finally suggested the government not to sign further deal with the Asia Energy saying the agreement of mine exploration was signed illegally in terms of royalty.