Uncertainty looms over Phosphorite mining

By Our Correspondent,Baitadi, May 14: Although experts from the Department of Mines and Geology discovered phosphorite in Baitadi four years ago to operate an agricultural fertiliser industry, the budget and time are being spent on annual studies and research as the quantity is not certain.

The confusion has arisen in the operation of the mine after it was revealed that only 3-4 per cent phosphorite was available last year, while it was said that 16 per cent phosphorite was available three years ago.

Phosphorite mines are located in Basaura of Wards 7 and 3 of Dogdakedar Rural Municipality and in Purchaudi Municipality-6, Sawangaun. 

The mine is spread over an area of more than 40 kilometres from Basaura in Dogdakedar Rural Municipality to Sawangaun in Purchaudi. An expert team had previously drilled and studied the mine towards Dogdakedar three years ago. 

A team of 15 people, including senior geologist Kumar Khadka, was informed that 16 per cent phosphorite was found after drilling for 55 days. Last year, only 3-4 per cent phosphorite was found during the re-study, and no private sector company showed interest in mining excavation.

According to Narayan Baskota, Information Officer of the Department of Mines and Geology, despite the decrease in the quantity of phosphorite, proposals were invited from private sector companies, but no one submitted proposals.  He said that further study of the mine would be conducted this year.

To study the possibility of operating agricultural fertiliser plant in Nepal, a team of the Department of Mines and Geology had spent Rs. 5.5 million on a detailed study by drilling a 50-metre-deep hole in the phosphorite mine. Last year, around Rs. 500,000 was spent on the study as well.

Baskota said that there is a budget required for a detailed study of the mine in the current fiscal year as well. 

He said that even though the Department is working to discover phosphorite, private sector companies are not enthusiastic about investing as the estimated quantity of phosphorite is fluctuating.

Apart from phosphorite mines, Baitadi has more than eight mines, including iron mines, limestone, silajit, and slate.

The IME group is preparing to operate a cement industry by excavating limestone in Baitadi. There are limestone and phosphorite mines in Dogdakedar Rural Municipality, lead mines in Gwalek and silajit mines in Maura Bhir of Dasharathchand Municipality.

More than 400 pits excavated by locals to extract iron 35 years ago can still be seen in the Kalidhunga area of Malladehi in Purchaudi Municipality.