Energy production: Groundbreaking of Thar Coal Block-II on Jan 31

660MW to be generated from project’s first phase.

KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided that the ground-breaking ceremony of coal mining at Thar Coal Block-II will be held on January 31, 2014 in which officials from other provinces would also be invited.

This was decided at a meeting of the steering committee of Thar Coal Energy Board (TCEB) presided by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah in Karachi on Friday.

The modalities of the project, which will generate up to 660 megawatts (MW) in its first phase from Thar Coal field block-II, were discussed and given final touches.

Energy generation in the second phase would increase to 1,320 MW. This project will have a 230-km transmission line to link the power in the national grid for distribution.

A separate committee was constituted to work for the strengthening of TCEB and empower its decision-making with reference to implementation of coal-based, power-generating projects. The meeting also approved the tariff rate of Thar Coal and decided to encourage companies that were interested in coal-based power generation.

The CM, while addressing the meeting, said that energy crisis was a national issue and should be resolved under the national umbrella through joint efforts.

He said that the purpose of inviting dignitaries from other provinces was to provide a national forum to meet this challenge with joint efforts. He said indigenous natural resources like coal and wind corridor not only can meet the national requirements of the power but produce surplus energy to export and earn foreign exchange as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2014.

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