Sindh plans independent gas, fertiliser policy

Energy minister says will take up the matter with Centre

KARACHI:

A provincial-level policy will be drafted for the production of liquified gas and urea fertiliser from Thar coal.

The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Minister for Energy, Planning and Development Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, at the office of the Department of Energy held at the Sindh Coal Authority.

Sindh Planning and Development Department Chairman Najam Ahmad Shah, Energy Department Secretary Mosaddiq Ahmed Khan, Sindh Coal Authority Director General Haq Nawaz Shar, Consultant Dr Farid A Malik, Deputy Director Asif Mangi and Umair Ali Qaimkhani were also present in the meeting.

In the meeting, a detailed briefing was given regarding making gas from coal. The meeting was informed that samples of coal from Thar were sent to the modern laboratory of South Africa. According to the test results, the consultant presented a new report, according to which Thar coal has been declared fit for gasification at the international laboratory in South Africa. The meeting was also informed that the country could save about 500 million dollars in foreign exchange annually as a result of gas production from coal. In terms of gas import, if we build an energy system from Thar's 175 billion tons of coal reserves, we can reduce the energy import bill by 50%, while pollution can also be avoided with green coal technology. The Minister for Energy said he will personally contact the Federal Minister for Energy regarding Sindh Coal Gasification

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2024.