Production cut to one-third for shortage of equipment

The rock production at Madhyapara Granite Mining Company Ltd [MGMCL] has reduced to one-third as the mine development underground halted due to lack of equipment.

Germania Trest Consortium [GTC], a Belarus based company took over the charge for producing rock at the state-run rock mine in Parbatipur upazila under Dinajpur district early last year.

Within six months, the company started three-shift production and extracted nearly two million tonnes of rock in last one and a half years.

But GTC on August 1 stopped work of two shifts as all the five stoves (rock pockets underground) saw shortage of rock.

The mine is now producing around 1,500 tonnes of rock daily, cutting two-thirds of the production, and of the 580 miners appointed under 'no work no pay' condition, 360 miners have been left out of job temporarily.

However, GTC has agreed to pay them August month's salary.

According to the Tk 1,400crore contract agreement, GTC would look after the mine's development, maintenance and production while MGMCL is supposed to provide all logistic support like arrangement of machinery, explosives and marketing of the rock.

As per contract GTC is to produce nine million tonnes of rock in six years.  

"But we are not getting necessary support of MGMCL for developing the mine.

Seven months ago, GTC requested MGMCL to import necessary equipment for development of new stoves but to no effect. If MGMCL starts the importing process today, it will require around six months to meet the purpose," said Sirajul Islam Kazi, chairman of Germania Trest Consortium. 

"Besides, we are yet to get our due Tk 35crore as regular service payment," he said. 

Protesting the negligence of MGMCL, GTC earlier lodged complaints to Petrobangla and the ministry concerned.

Consequently, Md Abdul Bashar was removed from the post of managing director (MD) of MGMCL and closed to Petrobangla on July 23.

Aminuzzaman, MD of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd in Parbatipur upazila, was appointed as acting MD (additional charge) of MGMCL.

Contacted, Aminuzzaman said he would need just a week to make any comments of the situation of MGMCL.

"Aminuzzaman is cooperative and we are now hopeful," said GTC Chairman Sirajul Islam Kazi. 

Earlier North Korean company Namnam developed the mine spending Tk 1275crore. The mine officially started rock production late May in 2007.

According to the agreement, Namnam was to produce 5,500 tonnes of rock each day operating three shifts, but the company failed to attain the target and Petrobangla discontinued working with it, following different allegations.

Petrobangla signed a contract with GTC on September 2 in 2013.

In April this year, three mega projects including the authority of Padma Bridge agreed to take 90,000 tonnes of rock from Modhyapara. Besides, the rock is supposed to be used for Karnaphuli tunnel and express elevator projects.

The recent cut in rock production will definitely affect its smooth supply, said Shafiqul Islam of Monayem Group, a rock supplier.