Thar Coal project: Prime Minister hopes Chinese company will complete task at the earliest

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said progress on Thar Coal project was a milestone in the country's history and hoped that China's Sino Coal company would complete the task at the earliest. The Prime Minister was talking to Wang Jinhua, President of China Coal Technology and Engineering Corporation Group (CCTEG) here, whose Sino Coal company has shown interest in the Thar Coal Project.
The Prime Minister welcomed Sino Coal to carry forward the project and assured that the government would remove all impediments related to its execution. He said Pakistan was currently facing grave energy crisis and hoped that with Chinese technical assistance and expertise, Pakistan would be able to overcome the power issue.
He said progress on Thar Coal was an important milestone in the development of country's indigenous energy resources, and hoped that Chinese company would complete the work at the earliest. Gilani said the government was focusing on coal-based power generation in addition to hydro and thermal power for overcoming the energy deficit, adding Thar coal reserves would be utilised in ridding the country of load-shedding within shortest possible time.
Later talking to newsmen, Pakistan's Ambassador to China Masood Khan said the meeting decided that CCTEG Vice President would be visiting Pakistan next week to finalise the arrangements on Thar Coal Project. He said Sindh Thar Coal Energy Board and Engro Power had contacted CCETG for the survey of Block 2 of Thar fields and soon the two sides would prepare a feasibility report in this regard.
He said the Prime Minister assured the Sino Coal that federal and provincial governments would fully support the joint collaboration of Pakistani and Chinese companies. Masood Khan said the Chinese side offered full support for the economic development of Pakistan and discussed future co-operation and investment opportunities in the country.
He said CCETG showed keen interest to invest in the energy sector particularly Thar coal mining and setting up of power plants. The Sindh province has vast deposits of coal, totalling over 185 billions tones. These spread over an area of over 9,000 square kilometres and most suitable for power generation, promising fuel generation for future generations.