The Thar Power plant is bound to solve the woes of the country, especially those of the Thar people
KARACHI: The Thar Coal Power Project has started generating 330 MW electricity to be added to the national grid. With an estimated worth of $25 trillion, the coalfields can solve the energy problems faced by Pakistan. The country’s present power generation capacity stands at 28,000 MW out of which only 22,000 can be distributed due to primitive transmission and distribution system. The estimated 175 billion tonnes of coal can help produce 100,000 MW power for the next 200 years.
It can also contribute to reducing the oil and gas import bill by billions of dollars, while export of surplus electricity can generate $25 billion annually — an amount more than our total exports, according to the Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders (ICST). The capacity of Thar coalfields is 68 times more than Pakistan’s total gas reserves and holds more energy than Saudi Arabia and Iran combined.
The 9000 sq km area holds the key to the prosperity of Pakistan and should be given due importance. Pakistan is facing a serious energy crisis due to a rapid increase in energy demand from growing demographic pressures and intense industrialisation. The Thar Power plant is bound to solve the woes of the country, especially those of the Thar people.
Nasir Soomro
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2019.
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