Transport

Coal will be transported from Phulbari by rail, river and sea to supply both domestic and international markets. The bulk will be railed 360 kilometres south to a loading terminal at Khulna from where it will be barged a further 100 kilometres down the Pussur River to a deep water floating platform at Akram Point to be loaded onto sea-going ships. Coal that is surplus to domestic requirements can be exported to India down the same western rail corridor to the land port of Darshana, while supplies to the primary domestic markets in Bangladesh will be carried by rail across the Jamuna Bridge to Gazipur, near the capital Dhaka.

Rail track will need upgrading and dredging will be required to enable deep draught ships to reach the anchorage at Akram Point. The resulting rail and sea route will open up a major new export corridor both for Bangladesh and neighbouring Nepal.

The western Transport corridor presents Bangladesh port and rail authorities with unparalleled opportunities to improve infrastructure and maximise the new revenue streams from the Phulbari mine.

Some sections of the railway will require upgrading and more rolling stock will be needed. Improvements will have to be made in the navigability of the Pussur River and the channel across the bar at the entrance to the Bay of Bengal. The approach channel will have to be dredged to accommodate deeper draft ships, such as 'Handymax' and 'Panamax' size, which are suitable for potential customer ports, including Indian and Southeast and North Asian ports.

Phulbari's coal will more than quadruple the amount of freight transported on Bangladesh Railways and will transform Mongla-Khulna into the country's largest port in terms of export volumes.