Coal news and updates

In Pakistan, coal ultimately gets due attention

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has directed the Privatization Commission to initiate a summary for disinvestments of Lakhra Coal Power Project on priority basis after approval by the Council of Common Interests (CCI). The Punjab Government on its part has launched an unprecedented mega scheme for the installation of six coal fired power plants in Sahiwal, Sheikhupura, Jhang, Kasur, Rahim Yar Khan and Muzaffargarh that are projected to generate 6000MW of electricity. Private parties have been asked to submit their Expressions of Interest(EOIs) by the 28th of February, 2014 while policy incentives for these plants have been clearly identified.

These steps indicate that there is ultimately a realization that coal is the only available indigenous and inexpensive alternative energy resource, which has the potential not only to ensure self-sufficiency in energy sector but also to generate surplus for future needs. Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi speaking at a function in Karachi the other day also stressed the need to exploit Thar Coal as quickly as possible and assured Federal Government’s support to resolve the technical issues. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah was even more upbeat and stated that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former President Asif Ali Zardari will jointly perform ground breaking ceremony of the mining and coal based energy plants of Thar block on 31st January through which 660 MW of electricity would be generated in the first phase. The Sindh government has spent a huge amount of over Rs 20 billion for the development of infrastructure, provision of water and construction of roads to make the Thar coal reservoirs exploitable. We appreciate that the Federal and Provincial governments are paying due attention now on coal based energy as the country cannot afford generation through costly imported furnace oil and people and industry cannot foot the high cost.

Source: Pakistan Observer