Federal Ministry of Water & Power will establish dedicated wing in the Ministry to exclusively deal with infrastructure development for Thar and seek international financing for it as per the decision of the Council of Common Interest. This decision was taken at the 10th meeting of Thar Coal Energy Board (TECB) held at Chief Minister House here on Saturday.
The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah. Raja Pervez Ashraf Federal Minister for water power and other board members also attended the meeting. The meeting decided that TCEB Act would be immediately presented to Sindh Assembly to evolve the organisation on permanent basis and board approved to shift TCEB funding from ADP scheme to grant in aid basis.
The Board also approved the revised structure for executive arm of TCEB. The Board approved issuance of TCB for four blocks of Thar coal and also approved issuance of Expression of Interest (EOI) for infrastructure development schemes to attract international financing.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that the coal reserves of Thar will play a vital role in resolving the constant energy crisis in the country in the long and the short term and will also ensure the much needed positive paradigm shift in the demand and supply cycle of energy and power sources in the country. Managing director TCEB informed the board that the incentives package for thar coal has been approved in the ECC meeting held on 15 October 2010. Board appreciated the role of its vice chairman & federal minister for finance for getting it approved by ECC.
Chief Minister Sindh said that it is one of the major milestones achieved by this board and it is landmark incentive package to promote investment for thar coal.
Detailed progress update was shared by M/s Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company for Block II and Dr Samar Mubarakmand on Block V. Khalid Mansoor apprised the TCEB that on August 31, 2010 Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) completed the 'Bankable Feasibility Study' for a 6.5 million ton/annum coal mining project which will supply coal to fuel a 1,200 MW power plant, also to be set up by Engro Powergen limited.
It was told that SECMC has engaged a number of internationally renowned consultants from Germany, China, Pakistan and the UK to evaluate the technical, environmental and social, feasibility of the project. The study confirmed that 2 billion tons of coal reserves existed in Block II, which can generate 5000 MW for the next 50 years. The coal quality in terms of heating value, moisture, ash and sulphur content is superior to that being used in Germany and Greece for power generation.
Dr Samar shared the progress update on Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) project in Block V. He informed the TCEB that UCG operation is initiated by drilling two adjacent boreholes into the coal seam and injecting pressurised oxidants like hot air into the coal seam, igniting the coal seam and recovering the combustion gases through adjacent borehole.
The connectivity between the injection and producer wells is made by special linking techniques such as reverse combustion of coal. He informed that estimates of coal reserves has been established, selection of site for camp, gasifier, surface structure for gasifier gas handling plant and power generation completed, assessment of coal under UCG gasifier and life of gasifier done temporary at Islamkot has already been established.
Land (about 17 acres for project and 10 acres for colony) has been acquired from Government of Sindh at Mungo Bheel & Bhamnil Bheel (Islamkot). Power supply arrangements from high tension electricity lines of HESCO to colony site have been made.
Similarly, design of Prefab Colony completed, layout plan of camp is prepared and contract has been awarded and construction work is in progress and it is expected to be completed in 90 days. Design of underground gasifier has been completed and contract for the drilling of gasification wells has been awarded to Geological survey of Pakistan (GSP).
GSP has mobilised its establishment and machinery at Islamkot and the project site. Drilling rig and ancillary equipment has been tested and made operational and drilling for first well is complete. Design work of control system has been completed. Design and layout for plant buildings have been completed and order for construction on repeat order basis has been placed. Test burn of this UCG project will start March 2011 which will produce power from 3 to 5 MW which will further be scaled up to 100 MW in one years time.
The participants of the meeting included Murad Ali Shah Minister Finance Sindh, Ms Rubina Saadat Qaimkhani MNA, Jam Mehtab Dahar Minister Revenue & Relief Sindh, Jam Saifullah Dharejo Minister Irrigation & Power Sindh. Asad Ali Shah Member TCEB, Ghulam Ali Shah Pasha Chief Minister Sindh, Ajaz Ali Khan Managing Director TCEB & Secretary C&EDD, Khalid Mansoor CEO SECMC, Dr Samar Mubarak Mand Member Planning Commission of Pakistan.
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