The Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) on Thursday demonstrated the production of electricity from coal at Thar which may help overcome current energy shortage in the country.
Giving details of the breakthrough, PCSIR Chairman Dr Shaukat Pervez said Thar coal could play a pivotal role in meeting the energy requirements, both in long and short-term basis.
“Currently, energy crisis is causing Rs 230 billion loss every year to national economy,” he added.
He said the total coal reserves in Thar were equivalent to 50 billion tonnes of oil which was more than combined oil reserves of Iran and Saudi Arabia.
“These coal reserves are 42 times greater than total gas reserves discovered in Pakistan,” he added.
The chairman further said cost of one tonne lignite (coal) was Rs 2800 which could produce 160 liters diesel, which would reduce the cost of 1 liter diesel to around Rs 18.75.
He further said PC-1 – design, manufacturing and commissioning of pilot plant for conversion of coal gas into diesel and liquid fuel – had been submitted. According to sources in Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO), current installed power capacity is 19,566 mw, while the demand is 24,474 MW with a gap of 6,577 MW in the country.
The sources further said if the current situation remained unchanged, the power demand in 2015 could reach to 36,217 MW while the gap would climb up to 18,320 MW. In 2020, the demand could be 54,359 MW with a gap of 36,462 MW.
If steps are not taken to overcome the crisis, the demand in 2025 could jump to 80,566 MW with a 62,669 MW gap.
