The National Assembly Standing Committee on Science and Technology on Wednesday asked the government to tap all resources for Thar Coal Project and provide funds as proposed by the Planning Commission to overcome the energy crisis in country.
The committee met under the chairmanship of Dr Abdul Kadir Khanzada. Dr Samar Mubarakmand briefed the committee on the project and underground coal gasification (UCG) project. He apprised the committee that his team had carried out work on Block 5 project and had got successful results in the field. Mubarakmand also informed the committee on the total power generation of the world, worldwide UCG experience, seam depth and thickness besides briefing the NA body on map of exploration and availability of coal in the area.
The committee was also briefed on five other Thar Coal Blocks allotted to local and international companies and three more blocks available for investment. Mubarakmand also updated the committee about drilling rigs in operation and production by it. “Thar Coal is the future of Pakistan but due to the unavailability of required funds, the project was pending,” he added. He also talked about new options for Pakistan with UCG from Thar Lignite Coal and with the process of Thar Coal they could make power steam, diesel low cost gas, methanol and ammonia urea. A member of the Planning Commission informed the committee that he had also examined the project on site and found it practicable. The committee members including Mehmood Bashir Virk, Dr Khatu Mal Jeewan, Anusha Rehman, Shakeel Awan, Zafar Baig Bhittani and Jamshed Dasti supported the Thar Coal project. Annual report of the Pakistan Science Foundation for the year 2009-10 that was tabled in the House in this month was also presented before the committee.