Phulbari turns in favor of have the coal mine for the sake of Development and change their fate. People of Phulbari identified as anti development and anti mine due to movement launched by leftist Organization. Now they welcomed Asia Energy boss Gary Lye & his wife Nana lye in phulbari. Gary expressed his satisfaction to locals for their wake up towards the development.
Gary spoke in several meetings from Tuesday night and Wednesday (Today) morning at Asia Energy’s Phulbari Office and Base Yard with the gathering of hundreds of people and said “I am happy to see your mind set change. we have a policy to ‘develop Local” by this we mean the full package from training and employing local people to assisting local businesses and contractors deliver the goods and services needed to support the mining and power generation operations.”
Gary said, the mine operation will take 3 years to develop and get to first coal. During this period there will be some 5000 people directly employed and this workforce will need the full range of support including accommodations, food, transport and recreation. This alone is a major opportunity for local businesses. Gary said “the opportunities for local businesses are enormous with $300 million worth of activity happening in those initial few years including construction of new town and villages and reticulated water supply.”
Asia Energy boss Gary Lye and his wife visit is taking place aiming to discussions with members of local community, businesses and local administration to reinforce the company’s focus on ensuring the people of the coal mining area get maximum benefit from the operation which is planned to go for more than 35 years.
Gary said in the Meeting, When the mine reaches a steady state production, it will still directly employee 2,500 – 3,000 people. But, it’s conservatively estimated 15,000 new jobs will be created to continue the supply the necessary of goods and services to maintain the mine.
This doesn’t include the many thousands of new jobs that inevitably will come as industries are established on the back of the large scale mine mouth power generation. “Already we’ve had approaches from companies wanting to set up garment factories once electricity is assured” Gary said.
Gary shared his vision for development of the area which has been incorporated into the Phulbari Coal Project’s Scheme of Development which is awaiting Bangladesh Government approval.
“The area from Parbatipur, passing the east side of Phulbari to Birampur is blessed with the extractable Phulbari and Barapukuria coal deposits” Gary noted.
Drawing on his considerable international experience of mining working in harmony with communities Gary said “we have to accept the coal is fixed in its location and some relocation of people will be needed to maximize benefits and improve social amenity. This plan will maximize job creation and minimize impacts on the communities. Everyone wins and above all those that are resettled will receive comprehensive compensation and ongoing support from the company! Everyone will benefit from the Project.
Meanwhile People from all walks of lives are welcomed Gary and his wife Nana Lye in Phulbari when they arrived Tuesday after Noon. Hundreds of people come continuously to meet them up to the night. He spoke few indoor meetings with them. #