The National Assembly standing committee on Petroleum was informed on Monday that the total value of Reko Diq gold and copper deposits according to estimates, $1 trillion and production could be undertaken indigenously. The meeting of the committee was held under the chairmanship of Sardar Talib Hassan Nakai.
Reko Diq gold copper reserves
The Director General of the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) Dr. Imran Khan told the committee that one of the most promising deposit of Pakistan was discovered at a cost of Rs35,000 in 1978. “The unsung hero, Firdaus Khan, discoverer of this huge deposit now works as a section officer in the Ministry of Petroleum,” he said. He said that the reserve has 5 billion tonnes of copper at the rate of 0.64 percent copper and 0.44 gram per ton gold. He said the reserves could be exploited indigenously if local expertise was developed.
Thar coal gasification project
Terming Thar coal reserves as the future energy supply of Pakistan, he said, the usual open pit mining could not be done on the project, as the coal has 45 per cent volatile matter which would ignite upon coming to the surface. “The best available option is the coal bed gasification on which a research team led by Dr. Samar Mubarak Mand is working and hopefully the nation will receive good news soon.” Talking to reporters after the meeting, he said, the Thar coal gasification project has been delayed due to the availability of compressors. “We have purchased a Japanese compressor and it is expected to arrive in August. After its installation power generation will start in 15 days”.
200 million tones of iron ore deposits
On the iron ore reserves, he said Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) has discovered 200 million tonnes of Dilband iron ore deposit having 40 per cent iron ore, which are valued at Rs240 billion. Similarly he said high grade Chiniot iron ore deposit having 41 to 77.5 per cent iron ore which is valued at Rs33 billion. About the causes of delay in the exploration of the reserve, which was discovered in 1985 he said that the high inflows of subsurface water due to close proximity to Chenab river was a major hurdle in exploitation of the reserves. He said both the iron ore reserves could be utilized by the Pakistan Steel Mills. The committee was informed that GSP, headquartered in Quetta was setting up a drilling training institute that would provide training to Baloch youth.
Himalayan glaciers melting
Dr Imran said that scientific evidence gathered by GSP shows that the Himalayan glaciers were melting at a faster pace and the retreating glaciers were leading to formation of lakes that could put people at risk. He said that the military conflict at the Siachen glacier had an impact on the glacier and lakes were formed on the Indian side. He said that natural disasters could occur in the near future however he added that there were remedies available and building codes should be strengthened to lessen the extent of damage. He said that they were monitoring the Attabad Lake in Gilgit Baltistan and issue timely warnings if some activity was noted on the fault line.
Reko Diq reserves estimated at $1t
