Powering up: ‘Thar coal will cover Pakistan’s energy crisis’
The Thar Coal Project will take care of the energy needs of all of Pakistan, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon told deputations in his office on Saturday.
Pakistan will require a loan of up to $1.2 billion annually from the United States for the next five years to build infrastructure in Thar. “Foreign investors, especially our old ally China, showed great interest in the project,” said Memon. The information minister said that “hopefully” Thar power generation will begin in 2015 or 2016. Meanwhile, the government is “taking steps to ensure that the project goes smoothly”.
He declared the impression that the government is only working towards bettering a few favourites is wrong. The future of Pakistan depends on the Thar Coal Project which will open up many jobs for Sindh. The people will soon hear good news, he said. The project will take merit into consideration, he said. “The government is trying its best to provide the people of Thar and Sindh with the benefits of this project.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2011.
Correction: An earlier version of the article mistakenly ran 'she said' after a quote from the minister rather than 'he said'. The correction has been made.
COMMENTS (7)
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@First drink, don't think: Not going ot China for loans because China does not give loans. China is also not wiling to bringin FDI for the project - in otherwords bringtheir own equity - so that no loan is needed. When China does a project they are really selling project consultancy and execution services to Pakistan at market rate. Not sure why it gets described as aid.
He declared the impression that the government is only working towards bettering a few favourites is wrong. The future of Pakistan depends on the Thar Coal Project which will open up many jobs for Sindh. The people will soon hear good news, she said
Did the minister get a sex change during the comment?
U.s.a makes and use 40% of its electricity from coal and also china too getting technology to run plants from chinese companies is cheaper if our peoplea do so.
Did the figure 1.2 billion annually for five years came up by an economic hit-men?
Pakistan is not going to get a cent from US Govt or World Bank for Thar because Sindh Govt had signed a Coal Bed Methane (CBM) exploration contract and it is not being honored with American and Canadian company in March 2007. Private investment of billions of dollars available has forced the donors to stay away fro Thar.
In the Powder River Coal Field (USA), coalbed methane wells are completed open hole. Using this method, casing is set to the top of the target coalbed and the underlying target zone is under-reamed and cleaned out with a fresh-water flush. A down-hole submersible pump is then used to move water up the tubing; the gas then separates from the water and flows up the annulus. The natural gas and the water that are produced at individual wells are piped to a metering facility, where the amount of production from each well is recorded. The methane then flows to a compressor station where the gas is compressed and then shipped via pipeline. The water produced is diverted to a central discharge point at a drainage or impoundment. Some of the produced water is reinjected into nearby aquifers. This way two valuable products i.e. methane gas and water is derived fro the coal and now it would be safe to mine the coal without any danger of explosions. POWER PLANTS need water and fuel and by going for CBM exploration project, we get water and methane gas plus coal for the power generation. WIN WIN situation.
Why are we going for loans from USA, why not China only? I mean China has clearly said they are willing to provide non-cash aid to Pakistan. They can help us develop infrastructure in Thar. Anyway, what else we will want except to see out country prosper! Thar cool Khappy!