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Economic Feasibility Study of Hard Rock Extraction Using Quarry Mining Method at Companiganj Upazila in Sylhet District, Bangladesh

Mohammad Kashem Hossen Chowdhury*
Department of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Md. Ashraful Islam Khan
Department of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Mir Raisul Islam
Department of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Companiganj is one of the resourceful upazila of Sylhet district, though no gas or oil field have not been found yet, renowned for its hard rock. Hard rock, one of the main geo-resources of Bangladesh after gas and coal, is very useful in construction sector and cement industry. The source of this rock is near Meghalaya of India. This part of India is relatively in higher than the ground level of Bangladesh. That’s why the rock comes down by gravity especially in the rainy season. The water is the main transportation media which brings these rocks. People normally use manual hand tools for rock extraction and use two type of crusher to crush these rocks. In this research paper, we tried to find the economic feasibility of extracting these rocks. Though the extraction method of this quarry is not technologically advanced, but after doing this research, we can say that this quarry is economically feasible.

Keywords: Companigonj, Sylhet, Geo-resources, Hard rock, Crusher, Economic feasibility

Location: Companiganj Upazilla in Sylhet District

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Performance

Objectives:

The feasibility Study is an exercise that involves documenting each of the potential solutions to a particular business problem or opportunity. Feasibility studies aim to objectively and rationally uncover the strengths and weaknesses of the existing business or proposed venture, opportunities and threats as presented by the environment, the resources required to carry through, and ultimately the prospects for success. In this paper we will discuss about the economic feasibility of hard rock quarry at Companiganj Upazilla in Sylhet District. The purpose of the economic feasibility assessment is to determine the positive economic benefits to the quarry mining. This assessment typically involves a cost-benefits analysis.

Methodology:

In order to conduct this study, steps like field investigation, data collection, analysis, economic consideration are done. Field investigation includes site visiting, conversation with Upazila Nirbahi Officer, visiting different quarry, visiting different type of crusher and data collection from small and large crusher. Data collected based on survey and questionnaire by visiting the location several time.

3. Data Collection Data mainly collected from three locationsCompanigonj Bajar, Volagonj and Konabari. Companiganj Bajar: There were 40 small crushers and 75 large crushers in the Companiganj area. We observed most of the area and collect data from 2 small crushers and 2 large crushers. Bholaganj: There were 80 small crushers and 110 large crushers in the Bholaganj area. We observed and collected data from 3 small crushers and 2 large crushers. Kolabari: There were 40 small crushers and 60 large crushers in the Kolabari area. We observed and collected data from 2 small crushers and 2 large crushers. There are approximately 350 large size crushers in the project area. Data are collected from six large crushers at different place of the project area. They are P&S Stone Crusher, Borak Stone Crusher, Akash Stone Crusher, S.M Stone Crusher and Surma Trading and Kashem Stone Crusher. There were approximately 160 small crushers in the project area. Data was collected from local businessmen or owner of small crusher. Few data were collected from the workers. There were some business firm from which we collected data and they are Gazi Trading, Bangla Trading, S.Alam Trading, Zia Trading and Protik Stone Crushing. Local businessmen gather hard rock by using day laborer or worker. Then they crush different size rock and sell them to local customer. The local customers collect crushing rock and send them to different part of the country. Collected data from the location Data Collecting Point Total Number of Crusher Number of visited crusher No. of small crusher No. of large crusher small crusher large crusher Companiganj 40 75 3 2 Bholaganj 80 110 3 2 Kolabari 40 60 2 2 Production of Small Size Crusher: The production of a small size crusher is 700-800 ft³ /day. The number of total small size crushers is 160, so according to this the total production by small size crushers are 45000 ft³ /day and the annual production of crushed rock is 1.65 x 107 ft³. Production of Large Size Crusher: The production of a large size crusher is 2500-3000 ft³ / day. The total number of large size crushers is 350, so according to this the total production by large size crusher is 962500 ft³ / day. Selling price of crushed rock using small crusher: Hard rock is crushed into different required size. Their prices are also varying with their size and also with the size of crusher. The most required size is 3/4. The size 3/4(boulder) are most costly than others. The cost of 3/4 (boulder) is 0.84-0.85 USD/ft³ and the cost of 3/4 (bhuto) is 0.70-0.72 USD/ft³. The size 1/2 and 5/10 are residual and their price are less than 3/4 sizes. The cost of 1/2 size is 0.57-0.58 USD/ft³. The price of 5/10 size are 0.28-0.30 USD/ft³ which are less costly than other size. The prices are also varying with cost of raw material. Selling price of crushed rock using large crusher: The cost of 3/4 (boulder) is 0.86-0.90 USD/ft³ and the cost of 3/4 (bhuto) is 0.73-0.80 USD/ft³. The size 1/2 and 5/10 are residual and their prices are less than 3/4 size. The cost of 1/2 size is 61-0.64 USD/ft³. The price of 5/10 size is 0.28-0.30 USD/ft³ which is less costly than other size. Investment cost of crusher: Investment cost is the cost to set up the machinery or corresponding material during the early life of an industry. 20616 USD is required to set up the small size crusher and 47674.5 USD is required to set up the large size crusher. All the crushers are imported from the China.

Source of Information: American Journal of Mining and Metallurgy, 2014, Vol. 2, No. 2, 23-26

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI:10.12691/ajmm-2-2-1

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Hard rock is known as the building material which usually used in construction. Bholaganj is one of the main sources of hard rock and is used in construction all over Bangladesh. But no appropriate engineering technology is used here to extract this hard rock. Local people are extracting this hard rock by using hand operating tools. At least 9,000 people including 3000 women and 1000 children is working as a stone laborer, on the bank of the Dholai River, in Bholaganj, Companianj, Sylhet. The average income of the stone laborers is less than 150 taka per day. Stone extraction goes on in the area for about eight months a year, except the rainy season. On average 300 truckloads of stones are sent to Sylhet and other parts of Bangladesh every day. Based on this, local people get involved in rock business and crushing business. Maximum laborers in crusher mills and workers who working in quarry for extraction purposes are local people of Sylhet district. Not only local people but also people of other districts involve here. Unemployed people can get involved here easily. So it is clearly visible that a great working place has been created here. These rocks of Companiganj are assets of the local area of Bangladesh. Future study is required to extract these economically valuable rocks in an environment-friendly way using modern mining technology.

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