Talking to the media in Karachi, UCG Managing Director Dr Mohammad Shabir, at the project site near Islamkot on Saturday. Under the scheme, the Sindh government has allotted Block-5 of Thar Coal field to UCG led by Dr Samar Mubarak Mand to generate underground coal gas known as Syn gas to produce electricity. Dr Shabir said the project started in 2009 but due to problems in releasing the required funds the project could not take off in time.
“Uderground coal gasification was a new project, therefore it attracted wide criticism. But we did not succumb to pressure and continued our efforts.” “In the first phase, an experimental structure is raised under which pipes are drilled down 160 metres deep into the coalfield to reach the coal bed. After pumping out underground water lying near coal bed fired the coal underground and produced coal gas. The gas was supplied to the experimental plant and lit the flame.”
Dr Shabir recalled that in the original scheme under the UCG, 100MW power plant was to be installed at a cost of Rs9,000 million but the government fell short of funds and it was decided to launch a pilot project of 10MW capacity. He added a Chinese team would arrive in March to start the turbines imported from China.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2014.
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Coal gassification is likely the only way to fully develop Thar Coal - unfortunately it's still in the experimental stage and the few plants that our operating are small scale experimental projects which apparently haven't demonstrated enough promise to warrant upgrading into larger commercial operations. On the bright side at least someone in the govt is figuring out that std coal mining operations isn't going to work and they are exploring other options.
@TN if experiments were not for real world then you wouldn't be giving your opinion using the technology called the Internet. But I don't blame you, with our rote learning education system people simply cannot comprehend the importance of cutting edge research, experimentation and innovation.
@Javed: I've to disagree. UCG is in use in Angren Power Station (Uzbekistan), Majuba Power Station (South Africa) and Chinchilla Demonstration Facility (Australia).
Sheer wastage of resources! What are we trying to prove? Does any local or foreign IPP show interest? BIG NO!!! The project have to be economically viable/practical. Experiments don't work in the real world. Hope the water that is pumped out is wisely used -- Thar is thirsty for water. Wish these funds were used to save the starving kids in Thar -- 216 died as of this morning.
Samar Mubarak Mand has been fooling the nation from last 4 years. This technology is an overkill and so far utilized successfully only on one site worldwide.
hoping for the best. Praying for the best