175 billion tons of coal reserves are present in Tharparkar: PM Shehbaz
THARPARKAR, Oct 10 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif says that amid the skyrocketing fuel prices, the cheaper energy production from the Thar Coal Mines project would prove as a game-changer for development of the entire country. He said that 175 billion tons of coal reserves are present in Tharparkar and if we will produce one hundred thousand megawatt annually then these reserves are present with us for 300 years.
He stated this while addressing the inauguration of 330 MW power plant under CPEC Block II completed by Hubco company in district Tharparkar on Monday.
He said the Thar Coal Project could help the government save up to six billion dollars as the expenditure on the import of energy including petrol and liquid petroleum touched 24 billion dollars.
Shehbaz Sharif said the federal government in collaboration with the Sindh government would chalk out a policy framework on the Thar Coal mines project, with an objective to connect it with other rest of coal-powered power plants in the country producing 4,000 megawatt of electricity.
He said that, the coal gasification could be used to make Syngas for fertilizers and would save billions in foreign exchange.
Prime Minister said Thar Coal Mines project would be connected on 23rd March through a freight rail track for the transportation of coal to other parts of the country.
On the occasion, he was given a detailed briefing about the CPEC projects by Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah. The Chief Minister briefed that CPEC is a game changer for Pakistan’s economy.
He said that generating electricity from Thar Coal required an extensive road network, bridges and an airport. The Chief Minister said that the Sindh government built the infrastructure of Thar by spending 750 million dollars.
He informed that, according to the geological Survey of Pakistan, Thar coal has 175 billion tons of coal reserves and it has a total of 13 blocks, we were working on Block II and Block I.
He further informed that, in 2014, work was started on a coal mine power project under CPEC and in 2015, the federal government issued a sovereign guarantee for the project.
The Chief Minister said that, the power generation capacity of this power project will increase to 2640 MW by the end of this year.
He said that 23 schools have been established in the Tharparkar with the profits of Thar coal projects, in which 4061 students are studying; besides a 120-bed hospital has also been established in the district for the betterment of the locals.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Minister for Energy Sindh Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh, Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan Nong Rogn and others also addressed the ceremony.
Meanwhile Former prime minister and Senior Vice President PML-N Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Power Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan, State Minister for Petroleum Senator Musadiq Masood Malik, former principle secretary to the former prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Fawad Hassan Fawad and other high officials were also present on the occasion.