Government urged to accelerate coal exploration activities at Thar

Experts at a seminar urged the government to accelerate coal exploration activities at Thar and its effective utilisation for power generation.
The seminar on "The Energy Crisis in Pakistan- Power Generation from Coal- A Major Option" was jointly organised by the Institute of Engineers Pakistan (IEP), Karachi Centre and Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FPCCI) here on Thursday.
Acting President FPCCI Muhammad Farooq Dadabhoy said in his address that the attainment of energy at affordable cost has become indispensable to keep the industrial wheel in perpetual motion in view of the global competition and robust demand.
Farooq maintained that the increased production cost of energy in the country was putting negative impacts on industrial production and making Pakistani products non-competitive in international market.
He said that presently Pakistan is facing an acute shortage of electricity as its production does not cope with the demand, which is increasing by 10 percent to 12 percent per annum.
He pointed out that according to an estimate the demand for electricity will exceed 20,000 MW by 2010, which clearly indicates that an immense amount of energy is required to meet the growing demand at domestic, commercial and industrial levels.
He emphasised on the government to develop thermal power generation through indigenous resources, including coal (lignite).
Farooq was of the view that the share of coal in country's energy mix had to be increased at least 19 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by year 2050. He said that lignite reserves in Sindh are huge and suitable for power generation besides being cheap energy source, which can satisfy country's energy requirements for centuries.
Farooq suggested that Pakistan can attract foreign investment in the energy generating sector through coal and the Wapda and KESC should provide guarantee to buy coal-based energy at appropriate price.
Engr. Zaffaruddin A. Zuberi, Chairman IEP, Karachi Centre, said that the institute has organised the seminar in order to find out the alternate sources for generation of energy for smooth functioning of industrial sector. He said that to gain a complete practical information on coal, a delegation of engineers of IEP and members of FPCCI also visited Thar.
He said that 94 percent of energy in Poland, 70 percent in India, 78 percent in China and 28 percent in Malaysia is being produced from Coal and Pakistan should also utilise its coal reservoirs for the purpose. Many experts presented their papers on production of electricity from coal and its different aspects in the seminar that was widely attended by the engineers and professionals.