Coal gasification projects: National Assembly body seeks release of allocated funds

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Science and Technology has asked the federal and provincial governments to provide the allocated funds to Thar coal gasification project to speed up the work on the power generation project.
Chairman of the committee, Dr Abdul Kadir Khanzada, at the presentations on Thar coal and gasification projects here on Saturday, said that any delay on Thar coal and gasification trial and pilot projects would further delay the addition of the much-needed electricity to the country''s economy and industrial sector.
Representatives of Sindh Coal Authority, project co-ordinator of Engro, Oracle Coalfield of UK, PCSIR, and coal gasification project gave presentations to the committee on progress of their projects. Kadirsaid that both federal government and Sindh governments should provide the committed share of the allocated funds for these projects. "If you want to run the projects you need to fulfil your obligations and provide the necessary support to the on-going projects in Thar coal field".
He also asked the project runners to take media people to the site to show the potential for coal gasification and power generation in Thar. He also urged the federal Minister for Science and Technology, Changez Khan Jamali, to provide support, and funds, to Pakistan Council of Industrial and Scientific Research (PCSIR) so that it can upgrade its laboratory test project of coal gasification to a pilot project and then lead to commercial production.
"You need to support them, as the entire nation is now looking towards Thar coal projects as the only solution to existing power crisis", he added. Dr Kadir noted that even the allocations for these projects were not sufficient. He asked PCSIR to hold a meeting next week at its premises to demonstrate the trial production of gas and electricity, based on Thar coal.
Other members of the committee Changez Khan Jamali, Ms Shamsul Sattar Bachani, Justice Fakhar-un-Nisa Khoker, Zafar Beg Bhittani and Mahmood Bashir Virk also supported the projects and urged the government to extend wholehearted support to the scientists so that Thar coal can be utilised for power generation. Minister Changez Jamali assured the NA committee of removing all difficulties hindering the projects and said that all possible support would be provided to coal gasification projects and also to power generation projects under public-private partnership.
Earlier, Specialist Science and Technology of Planning Commission, Dr M Ashraf Moten in his presentation said that coal has to be declared as a matter of national security and strategic importance to attract investment from donors and multilateral institutions.
He said that total investment requirement for 100 megawatts of electricity through underground coal gasification is $115.6 million, and added that only $7.48 million has been received so far. Dr Moten said that 36 holes have been drilled, and stuffed, through 12" and 24 " diameters carbon-steel piping and cemented and tested for gasification. PCSIR Director General said that conversion of coal into diesel would cost only Rs 18 to 19 per litre, and cost of power generation from coal gasification would also be lower and sustainable.