Thar coal and energy board to be formalised

Two billion tons of coal reserves in block-II confirmed, 100MW power can be generated from the project with a year.

KARACHI: The Thar Coal Energy Board Act may be presented immediately to the Sindh Assembly to constitute the organisation on a permanent basis.

This was decided in the Thar coal and energy board meeting held at the Chief Minister’s House on Saturday. The meeting was chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and attended by Federal Water and Power Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf with other members of the board.

The board also approved the initiation of international competitive bidding for four blocks of Thar coal and sought international funding for infrastructure schemes. It was decided to establish a dedicated wing in the federal ministry for water and power for the development of Thar coal.

During the meeting, Khalid Mansoor, the CEO of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) said the company has completed the bankable feasibility study for 6.5 million tons of coal. The project will provide coal to fuel a 1,200-megawatt (MW) power plant.

“The study has confirmed two billion tons of coal reserves in block-II, which can generate 5,000MW for the next 50 years,” he said.

Dr Samar Mubarakmand, a member of the Planning Commission, said “initially we can produce 3-5MW, which will further be scaled up to 100 MW in one year.”

Asad Ali Shah, a member of the board and the son of Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, tendered his resignation due to personal engagements. The board accepted his resignation.

After the meeting, Federal Water and Power Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf told media that Rs12 billion of investment is needed just for the second block and that the government will be able to attract potential international investors. He said people will get benefit from the project very soon and the government will not only stop importing energy, but also export power to other countries.

“We have 175 billion tons of coal reserves that can easily generate 100,000MW of electricity.” He said existing coal reservoirs in Sindh are 68 per cent more than oil and gas resources of the country, adding all processes will be environment-friendly.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2010.