Energy problems: ‘Cost-effective Thar coal only answer’
Power crisis has rendered 400,000 people jobless.
ISLAMABAD:
Scientist Dr Samar Mubarakmand has said that only Thar Coal can provide guaranteed long-term energy security to Pakistan’s industrial competitiveness due to its cost effectiveness.
He stated this while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter Provincial Coordination, which met held here on Friday under the chairmanship of Mir Ahmedan Khan Bugti.
Mubarakmand informed the Committee that the current energy crisis has so far caused Rs230 billion losses to the country and made 400,000 people jobless. The project should be declared a matter of national security and of strategic important so that donors and multilateral firms invest more, he added.
He further said that the total power generation capacity of the country on coal-based was 2.27%, while India had 64.6%. He said that Thar lignite coal reserves were 175 billion tons spread over 9,600 Sq.Km, having generation potential of 100,000 MW consuming 536 million tons/ year.
These reserves are equivalent to 50 billion tons of oil, which are more than Iran and Saudi Arabia combined oil reserves or over 2,000 TCF of gas (42 times greater than total gas reserves discovered in Pakistan so far).
He said that four blocks were available for investment in Thar. The Thar project for 100 MW was planned for mid 2012, for which the gasifier has been designed, major equipment ordered and technical team has been mobilised, while drilling is in full swing, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2011.
Scientist Dr Samar Mubarakmand has said that only Thar Coal can provide guaranteed long-term energy security to Pakistan’s industrial competitiveness due to its cost effectiveness.
He stated this while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter Provincial Coordination, which met held here on Friday under the chairmanship of Mir Ahmedan Khan Bugti.
Mubarakmand informed the Committee that the current energy crisis has so far caused Rs230 billion losses to the country and made 400,000 people jobless. The project should be declared a matter of national security and of strategic important so that donors and multilateral firms invest more, he added.
He further said that the total power generation capacity of the country on coal-based was 2.27%, while India had 64.6%. He said that Thar lignite coal reserves were 175 billion tons spread over 9,600 Sq.Km, having generation potential of 100,000 MW consuming 536 million tons/ year.
These reserves are equivalent to 50 billion tons of oil, which are more than Iran and Saudi Arabia combined oil reserves or over 2,000 TCF of gas (42 times greater than total gas reserves discovered in Pakistan so far).
He said that four blocks were available for investment in Thar. The Thar project for 100 MW was planned for mid 2012, for which the gasifier has been designed, major equipment ordered and technical team has been mobilised, while drilling is in full swing, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2011.