Groundbreaking of Thar coal project by January 2005

A delegation of Shenhua Group Corporation of China that is on a visit to Pakistan has indicated that the ground breaking ceremony of Thar coal power project would be held by early January 2005.
The Chinese company hoped that the power generation will be started by September, 2006, said a press release issued by Sindh Coal Authority here on Sunday.
The delegation also pledged that hydrological survey currently being conducted by a team comprising 150 engineers and technicians was in progress, and they were quite optimistic to complete the study by the end of this year.
The delegation, comprising 13 experts of the Shenhua Group Corporation held detailed discussions with various departments of the Sindh government, visited Thar Coal Project followed by a meeting with Sindh Mines and Mineral Development Minister Haji Mohammad Usman Malkani.
The delegation attended a two-day meeting with Wapda at Lahore along with Sindh Mines and Mineral Development Secretary Israr Ahmed Shaikh and Sindh Coal Authority Director-General Syed Abbas Ali Shah, and discussed the issues relating to tariff, power generation and laying of 500 KV transmission lines, etc.
The Wapda chief assured all possible help to resolve the entire issues by mutual consultation with the Wapda authorities.
On the last leg of their visit to Islamabad, the delegation members also held a series of meetings with the secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Central Board of Revenue, Secretary, Planning and Development Division and the chairman, Board of Investment, and discussed issues relating to these departments.
The discussions remained quite positive with assurance from all the departments to resolve all issues prior to feasibility study being conducted by the Chinese.
It may be recalled that the Chinese delegation now-a-days in Pakistan is a result of the discussions of President General Pervez Musharraf with the Chinese government during his visit to China in the month of November 2003, and his keen interest in completion of Thar Coal project as early as possible.
While discussing the progress on 'Thar Coal Project, the delegation termed their discussions very positive and productive, and expressed their great satisfaction over the progress on Thar Coal project, and appreciated the co-operation and co-ordination extended by the Sindh government and the government of Pakistan.
The Than Coal project is one of the mega projects in Sindh, and considered a project of national significance with its important role for economic power generation and a milestone to support national economy.