The first coal mine in Bangladesh built by the Chinese was highly lauded by both sides saying it is a model of successful cooperation between the two countries.

Balarpukulia Coal Mine, situated in northwestern Bangladesh, is the first and the only coal mine in the country. The coal mine construction project agreement was signed in 1994 between China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) and Petrobangla, the national oil, gas and mineral company of Bangladesh. The construction started in 1996 and finished in 2005.

The signing ceremony for closing the construction project agreement was held in Dhaka recently, marking the formal handover of the coal mine to Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi Energy Ministry Secretary Mohammad Mohsin said at the ceremony he was very satisfied with the coal mine built by Chinese builders.

"The coal mine can't be constructed without the help of China," he said.

Petrobangla Chairman Jalal Ahmed said Balarpukulia Coal Mine is running very smoothly now, the coal mine not only produces high quality coal, its production is also very good.

He said, "the success of Balarpukulia Coal Mine is not only the success of Chinese builders, but also the success of cooperation between the two countries."

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Zheng Qingdian said he hoped the coal mine will bring benefit to the local economy and generate more employment.

Tang Yi, president of CMC, said at the ceremony the construction of Balarpukulia Coal Mine has improved the friendship between the two countries, it embodied the hardworking spirit of the Chinese and Bangladeshi builders.

Tang said the coal mine combined the efforts of many Chinese builders, it also helped Bangladesh realize the dream of owning a coal mine in the country.

Head of CMC Balarpukulia Coal Mine Project Lu Weijun told Xinhua the coal mine has produced 850,000 tons of coal this year, with a daily production of 3,600 tons by now.

"Based on this speed, the coal mine can produce 1.02 million tons of coal next year," he said.

Lu said the Balarpukulia Power Plant connected with the coal mine can generate 250 MW of electricity, around 10 percent of the total electricity generation in the country.

The agreement for excavating coal in Balarpukulia Coal Mine was signed between CMC, China Xuzhou Coal Mining Group and Petrobangla in June, 2005 and took effective in December 2005. Over the last three years, a total of 1.62 million tons of coal have been excavated.

(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2008)