Dr Samar against awarding contract to foreigners: Supreme Court briefed on Reko Diq project

Renowned nuclear scientist Dr Samar Mubarakmand on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that Pakistan has the manpower with scientific know-how to run Reko-Diq goldmine project, hence giving it to any foreign company will deprive the country of precious copper and gold.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry with Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday was hearing different petitions against Reko-Diq project. The Supreme Court had sought the assistance of the renowned scientist to brief it on the technicalities involved in awarding the project to any foreign company. Appearing before the apex court, Dr Samar said that Pakistan has technical expertise and trained manpower to handle the project independently.
"Every year the country has to import 0.1 million tons copper, he said, adding that from Saindak project, we don't even get a single kg of copper for our own industrial use. If we will operate this project, the related industries in Pakistan would grow," he added.
Dr Samar said the companies which had surveyed the Thar Coal project did not claim the mining right. In three years, he added, the TCCP, which was leased 400 sq kms land carried out work on only 6-7 sq kms, which is 3 percent of the total project area.
Irshad Ali Khokar, Director-General Minerals, Petroleum Ministry said the government was in a strong position at the pre-agreement stage. Rejecting the allegation levelled in the petitions, he said the charges were baseless and unfounded and no violation of rules, policy or national interest was committed by the government of Pakistan at any stage. He said that a steering committee comprising representatives of the Federation and Balochistan was set up in July 2008 to review the agreement. The committee had decided that the whole project would be handled by Pakistani manpower.
Dr Zubair Mehmood, consultant Tethyan Copper Company Pakistan (TCCP) informed the court that a large amount was required for exploration of mineral resources. He said that $3.3 billion would be spent on the project, adding that they have talked to certain banks for funding the project and the banks were ready to lend $1.3billion.
When Justice Ramday remarked that the banks were only interested in the interest rates and have nothing to do with the project, Dr Zubair said that if the cake is big, everyone will have big share. He said that shareholding given to Balochistan in the project is unprecedented. He informed the court that they have invested $220 million in the project so far.
He said due to security situation and poor economic environment, no one is interested in investing in Pakistan... even Pakistanis are leaving the country with their money. He said that the feasibility study of the project was conducted by a Canadian company. Justice Ramday said the ore of copper and gold from Reko-Diq would be taken out of the country in liquid form. The company would funnel ore to Gwadar and from there, it would be shifted abroad.
The Chief Justice inquired from the TCCP consultant whether the company would set up downstream industries in Pakistan? Dr Zubair said no... "we are in the business of mining and exploration." When the CJP asked Dr Zubair whether they have shared the feasibility report with the Federation, Balochistan and the court, he said that the Balochistan government had restrained them from sharing the report. He said that they would transfer the technology by training the people of Balochistan. The TCCP CEO Gerhard Von Borries will express his views regarding the project today (Thursday). The court adjourned the hearing till (today) Thursday.