Coal mining in Bangladesh: Options to mitigate environmental impacts

This study examines methods of mitigating the environmental impacts of coal mining in Bangladesh. Coal is expected to aid in providing energy security for the country in the short-term. The coal mining industry is currently in its infancy, and no policy exists. This study examines the government policies of three diverse countries and discovers that there are several instruments commonly used to reduce the environmental impacts of coal mining. These instruments include regulations that set standards for industry operations, environmental impact assessments conducted by companies that inform the government of expected results of the project, public consultations that provide stakeholders a voice in the process, monitoring of operations and penalties for violations of regulations or non-compliance with permits used as enforcement. The study formulates and assesses alternative policy options for alleviating this problem.