showed willingness to visit Thar coal, however, this visit is yet to be given green signal by Pakistan authorities,” a source said.
Referring to scale of coal mining and prospects of its future uses, Chaudhary Abdul Qayyum, CEO Sino Sindh Resources Ltd said coal production from Thar is planned to reach about 10 million tons per annum (mtpa) in three years and 25-30 mtpa in as little as five years, which will be sufficient to meet requirements of both mine-mouth power plants in Block-I and Block-II and other planned power projects in Karachi and Hyderabad.
“In the post-2020 period or next five to seven years, we are expecting doubling of coal production from 25-30 mtpa to 50-60 mtpa.
Half of this annually produced coal, having approximate export value of one billion dollar, could be offered for export markets including India,” he said while talking to a select group of Lahore-based journalists about promising development of Thar coal.
Qayyum said as drying process for Thar coal is developed with initiation of large-scale mining to make it more economical for transportation, Pakistan will be able to push huge quantities of coal for export market.
He said transportation of coal can be made possible via sea and land route, including rail and road links through necessary infrastructure and specific technology of coal handling.
Sino Sindh is currently in process of launching mining at Block-I while a joint venture of Sindh government and Engro Corporation has been allotted lease of Block-II or Thar coalfield and initial phase of mining has been started.
Agha Abbas Shah, Secretary Sindh Energy was also fascinated by the glittering prospects being offered by black gold discovered in Thar Desert.” Thar field provides abundant domestic source of coal which is vital for ensuring energy security of the country,” he said and adding it will also bring prosperity keeping in view enormous export potential of coal to world markets.
“Obviously, we will look towards export market of coal after meeting our power generation needs in next few years,” Shah said, while adding that low Thar coal price makes it possible to open up export market while competing with other coal producers in the world.
Talking about the possibility of coal exports to India, Shah said, decision in this respect will be reached while taking into account geopolitical situation and strategic issues associated with it.
He said Sindh government is developing the Thar coalfield as an emerging hub of petrochemicals. “As we kick start work on mining and power projects at Thar coalfield, which is now part of the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor, the entire energy scenario is going to change in next few years.”
“Naturally, we have to find markets for future coal selling as there is a limit to its use for electricity generation,” Abbas said.