Province of Sindh is endowed with huge lignite (coal) resources comprising 186.345 billion tones, one of the largest deposits in the world and has the capacity to meet energy requirements of the country for decades. The newly elected PPP government in 2008, after reviewing the enormous requirement of electricity took a strategic decision to exploit coal resources especially Thar Coal resources (175 billion tones) for integrated coal mining and mine-mouth power generation on fast track basis.
COAL & ENERGY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT To achieve this, one stop decision taking body Thar Coal & Energy Board has been established under the Chief Executive of the Province with representation from Provincial and Federal Governments.
The present Government also created Coal and Energy Development Department to focus on the exploration and development of coal resources of Province. During the tenure of two years, the present Government has made tremendous efforts results of which are as under:
Government of Sindh has entered into a Joint Venture with M/s. Engro Powergen (Pvt) Limited and formed 'Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company' for development of coal mine in Block-II. The joint venture for mining is 60% Engro, and 40% Govt of Sindh, which will lead to a 600-1000 MW power generation project by M/s Engro Powergen with an investment of US $3.00 billion.
The expected completion of the project is 2015-16. Currently SECMC has engaged various international firms to carry out Detailed Feasibility Study; the firms are Sinocoal of China, RWE of Germany, SRK of UK, China Northeast Bureau, etc. The SECMC has also signed a MoU with the PEPCO for supply of coal to the later for power generation.
Block-III of Thar coalfield has been allocated to with M/s. Cougar Energy (UK) Limited (a subsidiary of Cougar Energy Australia) for underground coal gasification and establishment of 400 MW power plant. The company is planning to use proven commercial UCG technology and plan to complete bankable feasibility study within 18 months and start construction of Pilot burn at the end of this period.
Block IV of Thar Coalfield has been allocated to M/s. Bin Daen Group, UAE for the development of coal mine and installation of 1000 MW power plant. They intend to setup a mine mouth power plant of 1000 MW. Block-V of Thar Coalfield has been allocated for Under Ground Coal Gasification (UCG) led by Dr Samar Mubarakmand for establishment of 100 MW (2 x 50) IGCC power plant.
The project is scheduled to be commissioned within next 8 to 10 months. The project also caters for Carbon Capturing and Storage (CCS), a clean coal technology initiative being experimented first time in Pakistan. Block-VI of Thar Coalfield has been allocated to M/s. Sindh Carbon Energy Limited (a subsidiary of Oracle Coalfields Plc, UK) for development of coal mine and installation of Power Plant of 300 MW extendable to 1000 MW. They have commenced Bankable Feasibility Study (incl. ESIA).
M/s Al-Abbas Group, a well-known industrial group of Sindh, acquired two exploration licenses in the name of Roadways Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd and Al-Abbas Power Generation Limited in Badin coalfield, with the objective of exploring and evaluating coal resources and setting up coal based power plants. The Group has recently approached for Joint Venture with Government of Sindh, which is under consideration.
An Exploration license over an area of 100 sq. km has been granted to Sindh Carbon Energy Limited (Subsidiary of Oracle Coalfields PLC UK) for conducting Feasibility Study for development of coal mine and establishment of power plant in Badin Coalfield.
A Mining Lease over an area of 56.7 sq. km has been granted to M/s China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation of China for conducting Feasibility Study for development of coal mine and installation of Power Plant of 405 MW at Sonda nJherrick Coalfield.
Beside promotion of investment in coal mining and power generation, the Coal & Energy Development department has taken strenuous efforts for exploration of coal resources by developing additional coal blocks in coalfields area and setting up infrastructure to facilitate the investors. The details are as under:
DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL BLOCKS (IIIB, VII AND VIII) AT THAR COALFIELD: In addition to existing six blocks, development of additional blocks (Block-IIIB, VII and Block-VIII) has been completed and will be offered to foreign and local investors for coal fired power generation projects through ICB.
DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL BLOCKS (IX & X) IN THAR COALFIELD: The exploration for development of two additional blocks (IX & X) over an area of 100 sq km (each) at Thar coalfield is under progress. Total 40 boreholes are to be drilled in each block and six boreholes have been completed in Block-IX. The total period for development and exploration of both the blocks in nine months.
DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL BLOCKS (XI-XII) AT THAR COALFIELD: The development of two more blocks (XI & XII) is under consideration. Development of Block at Badin Coalfield: A block comprising of an area of 510 sq. km. having coal reserves to the tune of 223.80 million tones has been developed.
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
ELECTRICITY: A 11 kV feeder emanating from Islamkot Grid Station to Thar Coal Project areas with 200 watts transformer has been completed. In addition to this, a scheme of 1200 HVDC Transmission line is being planned by the National Transmission and Distribution Company. The ADB is funding feasibility study for Up-gradation of whole Transmission Network to cater for evacuation of 10000 MW to be produced from Thar Coal.
TELEPHONE: Optic fibre cable installation between Mirpurkhas and Mithi exchanges completed and Optic fibre line is available up to Thar coalfield area.
ROAD NETWORK: to facilitate transfer of heavy equipment/machinery, the improvement and widening of existing road network from Sea Port Karachi to Thar Coalfield is under process. The Works and Services Department has prepared PC-I in two parts ie (i): Improvement and Widening Thatta-Sujawal Badin upto Wango More I/C By-pass Roads (Badin-Thatta Portion) Mile 123.875=199.314 KM (cost Rs 1742,053 million) and (ii) Widening/Reconditioning of Road from Wango More to Thar Coalfield Mile 9/0-83/2 (133.20 KM), cost Rs 2468.008 million.
CONSTRUCTION OF AIRPORT: The project for construction of airport near Islamkot has been approved. The Civil Aviation Authority will be the executing agency. The Airport will facilitate investors as well as general public.
RAILWAY LINE AT THAR: The Pakistan Railways Advisory & Consultancy Services is conducting feasibility study for provision of rail connection up to the coalfield. They have completed the feasibility study for the same.
SUPPLY OF WATER AND DISPOSAL OF EFFLUENT: the Irrigation & Power Department has prepared a proposal for provision of canal water (100 cusecs) from Chotiari Dam. PC-II has been prepared and submitted to the appropriate forum for approval. Moreover, a project for disposal of effluent is also under preparation by the Irrigation and Power Department.
INSTALLATION OF REVERSE OSMOSIS (WATER DESALINATION PLANTS): To provide long-term and economical solution of potable water to the inhabitants living in the vicinity of coal area of Thar Desert, brackish/saline groundwater is being converted into potable water through sophisticated Reverse Osmosis (water desalination) technology. Total 29 Reserve Osmosis Plants have been installed in District Tharparkar, which are providing pure, safe drinking water inhabitants of Thar.
Another scheme of 29 more R.O. Plants for Tharparkar and Umerkot Districts has been approved to cater requirements of potable water. In addition to the installation of ROs in Tharparkar, Government of Sindh has also approved 25 Reverse Osmosis (water desalination) plants to be installed at Thatta, Badin, Dadu/Jamshoro districts. Procurement of the plant has been completed and civil works for 19 sites in district Badin are in full swing and will be completed by June, 2010.
RESCUE STATION: Rescue station in coal mining area at Thar coalfield covering an area of 8,200 sq. ft. is near completion which will facilitate mine workers in providing first aid in case of any accident.
THAR LODGE: The scheme for construction of 20-bedded accommodation to facilitate foreign and local investors at Islamkot is near completion.
POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AT MITHI: To cater to the future requirement of skilled manpower in the upcoming projects of large scale surface mining and power generation, up gradation of the Polytechnic Institute is being carried out.
The following studies are being perused by the department to facilitate the investors Environmental & Social Studies: the scheme for environment and social studies and land use plan including Resettlement Frameworks for Thar Coalfield has been approved. Before the start of full scale mining and establishment of associated power plants, it is necessary to have environmental and social studies including Resettlement Frameworks and Land use Plan in place.
This would facilitate all stakeholders including investors by providing vital geographical information and also set basis against which changes in the environment and socio-economic situation in the area can be assessed.
Geographic Information System (GIS) for Thar Coalfields is being developed with the assistance from the World Bank, which will provide required inputs for preparing Water Master Plan, Land Use Plan, Social and Environmental Framework, Resettlement Framework and Mining cadastre.
HYDROGEOLOGICAL STUDIES AND WATER MASTER PLAN: The scheme for assessment of water resources has also been approved. It envisages preparation of Water Master Plan of the area for future planning of projects. A Water Pumping Test is in progress at the Thar Coalfield, to gather information regarding age of water, chemical composition and various hydro-geological data.
This test is first of its kind to be done in Pakistan and will be highly useful for evaluating underground water aquifers in Thar fields. Pakistan is a large country with its growing population which will exceed 190 million by 2015. The primary energy demand is expected to triple or quadruple by 2025. Therefore the present Government has assigned top most priority to development of coal resources and its utilisation.
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