Phulbari Coal Mine, Bangladesh


In the Phulbari area of Northwest Bangladesh, communities have come together to raise their voices around the proposed Phulbari Coal Project--which threatens to turn this vital agricultural region into an open-pit coal mine.  If implemented, the mine would have devastating environmental impacts and ultimately displace up to 220,000 people.  



Updates

  • GCM response letter: The company's CEO responds to civil society letter outlining concerns with Phulbari, March 2010. ...more>>
  • Civil society organizations respond to GCM statement to U.K. Joint Committee on Human Rights ...more >>
  • Mines and Community release a report on how coal may produce energy without being mined.
  • New report: Phulbari Coal: a Parlous Project, prepared by Nostromo Research for Bank Information Center.
  • Global civil society letter: Over 100 civil society organizations call on investors to divest from the Phulbari Coal Project, with the simultaneous release of a critical report ...more >>
  • Barclays sells its shares in Phulbari mining company: In June 2008, the U.K. based Barclays Bank withdrew financial support from the Phulbari coal project ...more >>
  • Barclays is questioned about its involvement in Phulbari: On April 24, 2008, at the Barclays Bank Annual Meeting in London, IAP and World Development Movement raised questions to the Barclays Board of Directors about the project's adherence to the bank's environmental and social commitments. Read more about Barclays Bank at banktrack.org.
  • ADB financing under question: On April 3, 2008, civil society groups announced to the media that the ADB has pulled its financing from the Phulbari coal project. Read the civil society press release. (doc 35 KB)

Overview

The Phulbari mining project involves an open-pit coal mine in Northwest Bangladesh and the construction of at least one 500-MW power plant. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), at full production about eight million tons of coal will be transported by rail and barges to an offshore reloading facility located in Akram Point. An additional four million tons will be exported to India via railway, and the remaining three million tons will be used for domestic energy consumption ...more >>

Concerns

Human rights: The grassroots resistance that has formed around the project has been met with egregious consequences. In August 2006, the Bangladesh Rifles, a paramilitary force, opened fire on the 50,000 local people who were conducting a peaceful protest around the Phulbari project area. At least three people were killed, including a 14-year old boy, and over 100 people were wounded. These violations of civil liberties are on top of the direct impacts of the project, which include massive human displacement, potential damage to internationally protected environmental areas and significant contributions to global warming—which causes reciprocal impacts on impoverished countries that lack the systems to adequately adapt to potential disasters, like increased flooding and violent storms. Local communities, national Bangladeshi NGOs and international advocacy organizations have taken up the call, “Hands Off Phulbari!”

Displacement: The Phulbari coal mine will require the acquisition of 5,933 hectares of land (around 60 sq. km., 80 percent of which is used for agriculture) and will physically displace 50,000 to 100,000 people while cutting off resources used to sustain the livelihoods of at least 200,000 people. This human relocation and displacement is taking place in one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Land, specifically land used for agriculture, and other resources such as timber, fish ponds and bamboo trees, will not be replaced and the scope and impacts from de-watering around the project area will be severe. In short, the lives and livelihoods of tens of thousands of people will be irrevocably disrupted by the mining operation.

Environment: Clearly, the impacts from this mine are not limited to resettlement and displacement. According to the project design, eight million metric tons of coal will be exported by rail and barges through the Sundarbans, one of the three largest mangrove forests in the world which is also an international Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Four million metric tons would be transported to India through the rail network and three million would be used for domestic consumption. This international transport is planned despite provisions in the Bangladeshi mining law which prohibits the export of coal.

Photo courtesy of AID/WATCH, Australia

Our Approach

Working with an international coalition, IAP is raising awareness with financial institutions involved in the project around the risks to people and the environment. IAP has reviewed the draft Resettlement Plan developed by the project sponsor, Global Coal Management, Inc. and it's fully owned subsidiary, Asia Energy Corporation. This analysis, along with letters, articles and other reports about the project are being delivered to GCM, private banks holding or managing shares in GCM, and the Asian Development Bank.

Learn More...

Correspondence: Reports:

Watch the YouTube video on the Phulbari Resistance:

Selected media releases and articles:

Civil society websites:

Bank and company websites: