The government, in view of meeting increasing power demand in the country, is working on power generation projects of around 2500 MW from Thar coal reserves. Giving present status of power generation projects from Thar Coal, an official on Monday said one of the major initiatives of present government was to enter into a joint venture with leading industrial group – Engro Group (40 percent Sindh Government and 60 percent Engro) for Block-II of Thar coal fields. The official said the company plans to develop an open pit mine of 6.5 million ton per annum capacity and power generation of 1200 MW at the cost of US $ three billion. He said bankable feasibility has been completed in August 2010 and this flagship project of Government of Sindh is part of the projects, taken up by Pakistan-China Joint Energy Working Group (JEWG). Chinese financial institutions are willing to finance this project provided they get a green signal from the government of China. Next meeting of JEWG is scheduled to be held this week at the capital. The second project is Block-VI Oracle Coal fields PLC United Kingdom for which detailed feasibility study has been completed and approved by Technical Committee of Sindh Coal Authority. The official said they planned to construct five million ton per annum mine and 300 MW Power Plant in first phase. Oracle has also entered into agreement with Karachi Electricity Supply Corporation (KESC) for power plant. The pre-development ground work for mine will commence this month and mine development would begin by first quarter of 2013. The third project is Block-I: Sino-Sindh Resources (Pvt) Limited. Block-I of Thar Coal field was allocated to Sino-Sindh Resources, a subsidiary of Global Mining of China through International Competitive Bidding last year. They have completed the detailed feasibility study recently. Sino-Sindh intend to construct 10 million ton per annum mine and 900 MW power plant in first phase by 2015. The official said the fourth project is Block-V Underground Coal Gasification Project. Planning Commission approved the project and engaged renowned scientist, Dr. Samar Mubarakmand to develop a local technology and execute the pilot project. He said the project is for production of Syngas from Thar. Based on Syngas Power Plant of 100 MW can be established and added an amount of Rs. 984.93 million has already been released for production and purification of Syngas. The test burn was ignited few months back. Syngas is being coming out from underground cavity created by drilling, casing, cementation and reverse combustion. As decided by TCEB, an international EOI for establishing 100 MW, is being floated to attract foreign investment.
Power generation projects from Thar coal to produce 2,500MW
