Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Limited (BCMCL) Monday signed a contract with DMT Consulting to conduct a preliminary study on the iron ore mine in Alihat of Hakimpur upazila, Dinajpur.
BCMCL, a subsidiary of Petrobangla, now owns the coal mine at Barapukuria.
The Geological Survey of Bangladesh discovered an iron ore-enriched rock mine in a 5 square km area in Alihat a few years ago. Initially, it was assumed that the area has a reserve of 625 million metric tonnes of iron ore.
According to Petrobangla, the discovered iron ore-enriched rock's depth is between 526-548 metres and its iron ore potential is about 50 percent. The average width of the rock structure is about 68 metre.
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A detailed feasibility study will be conducted later for mining if the iron ore reserve is found to be sufficient and economically viable in the study "Preliminary Study for Development of Alihat Iron Ore Deposit at Hakimpur, Duinajpur," said Petrobangla.
BCMCL Company Secretary Umme Tajmeri Selina Aktar and DMT Consulting Managing Director Dr Vassilis Roubos signed the contract in Dhaka.
Petrobangla Chairman Nazmul Ahsan, BCMCL Managing Director Md Saiful Islam, and other top officials were present.