Reko Diq Copper-Gold project in Chagai district will start production in two to four years. This information was given to Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Jadoon who visited Geological Survey of Pakistan headquarters here on Sunday.
An Australian company is working on the project. This will be the second such project after Saindak in the district.
Minister of State Mir Nasir Mengal and other officials accompanied him during the visit.
Acting Director General GSP Muhammad Hafeez Butt briefed the Federal Minister about the achievements of his department and its role in exploration of minerals, geological mapping of the country and fossil discoveries.
They were informed about the mineral potential of Balochistan. GSP has discovered over 200 million tons of iron ore deposit at Dilband in Kalat in 1996.
Lead and Zinc deposits were discovered at Duddar, Gunga and Surmai in Lasela-Khuzdar range in 1980, which has attracted Chinese investment. GSP discovered Saindak Copper-Gold deposits in 1973 and is now in production.
The deposit has more than 400 million tons of copper ore with 2.24 million ounces of gold.
An Australian company is working on Reko Diq Copper-Gold deposit, which was discovered by GSP in 1978. It is one of the very promising Copper-Gold world-class deposit with 800 million tons of Copper and 9 million ounce of Gold. It is expected to be in production within two to four years.
The GSP has also discovered 185 billion tons lignite coal deposits at Thar and evaluated six major coal producing fields in Balochistan with over 200 million tons of reserves.
The federal minister appreciated the economic benefits of the mineral resources discovered by the department and urged the earth scientists to work hard for the country.
He assured the GSP geo-scientists to help resolve their outstanding issues such as lack of promotional channel and incentives. The Minister of State Nasir Mengal stressed the need for a close co-operation between the federal and provincial government departments and universities. The federal minister also visited the geological museum.