Thar mining firm to supply 1.9m tons of coal to two power plants

Signs deals with ThalNova and Thar Energy; their plants will come on stream by early 2020

KARACHI: With the aim of increasing the share of domestic resources in energy mix, Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) signed two separate agreements with ThalNova and Thar Energy for the supply of 1.9 million tons of coal per annum each from Thar deposits, said a statement.

After the commissioning of these power projects, SECMC will be mining 7.6 million tons of coal per annum from Thar coal block-II, which will bring down coal tariff to around $41.35 per ton.

ThalNova is a joint venture between Thal Power (Private) Limited and Nova Powergen Limited, which are subsidiaries of Thal Limited and Novatex Limited respectively.

Thar Energy Limited is a subsidiary of Hub Power Company (Hubco), which is one of the largest independent power producers (IPPs) in Pakistan.

Thar Energy and ThalNova are setting up mine-mouth power plants of 330 megawatts each at Thar block-II, which will be fully capable of running 100% on the domestic coal production. Both the power plants are scheduled to be commissioned by early 2020.

Earlier in April 2016, SECMC and Engro Powergen Thar Limited achieved combined financial close for the supply of 3.8 million tons of coal per annum to the latter.

Currently, the project to mine 3.8 million tons of coal and establish a 660MW power plant is progressing ahead of schedule and is expected to come online by June 2019.

The coal supply agreements were signed by SECMC CEO Shamsuddin Shaikh, Hubco and Thar Energy CEO Khalid Mansoor, ThalNova CEO Khalid Siraj Subhani and COO Rana Zulfiqar at SECMC’s office in Karachi.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2017.

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