Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim here on Monday ordered pacing up work on Sindh coal projects and said that destiny of the province could be changed by utilising its vast natural resources.
Addressing a briefing given to him on coal projects and mineral resources of the province, at the Chief Minister's House, he said that Sindh was rich with natural resources and all that needed was to utilise these resources and transfer their benefits to the masses. He said that rich deposits of coal, granite and other minerals could play a vital role in eradicating poverty and joblessness from the province. He directed that educated youth, who had qualified in engineering and other disciplines from various universities and professional colleges should be provided training under specially tailored short course and awarded necessary experience certificates so that they could fulfil requirements of job market.
Dr Arbab asked the officials to study feasibility of setting up airport near Mithi instead of its suggested location near coalfield at Islamkot. He ordered a survey in this regard. He said that all schemes of the coal project, including water schemes, dispensaries and schools, should be completed on time. He said that 36 new schemes being launched would help in rapid progress of the province, especially those areas having natural resources.
The meeting decided that the department of mines and mineral development would recruit three surveyors on contract basis, while the department would be provided required vehicles to accelerate the pace of work in right direction.
Sindh Minister for Mines and Mineral Development Irfanullah Marwat and Secretary Mines and Mineral Development Abdul Hameed Akhund briefed the chief minister in detail about their department. He was told that this department was established on August 22, 2001 under the National Mineral Policy of 1995 and its scope was to develop mineral resources, granting licenses and leases, receiving royalties, monitoring exploration of mineral resources, estimating about coal deposits, develop their sites and suggest means and ways of utilising them.
The meeting was told that activities related to development of coal had been spurred, and all programmes regarding utilisation of coal were being implemented. To develop coal deposits in the province joint projects of local and foreign investors were underway. The meeting was told that 98 percent of all available coal in the country was in Sindh province, where some 184.123 billion tonnes of 'black gold' were available. Out of them 1.328 billion tons were at Lakhra, 7.112 billion tons at Sondha, 0.161 billion tons in Meting Jhampir, 0.016 billion tons in Badin and 175.506 billion tons were in Thar Desert.
The meeting was told that Lakhra Coalfield, spread on 1,309 square kilometres was situated 193 kilometres away from Karachi. Here 2 million tonnes of coal is being excavated annually. The task of finding and excavating coal in north of Lakhra was given to China North East Geological Survey Bureau, while Fateh Group and a company of Ukraine had inked a MoU for setting up a 200-MW power plant here. A Letter of Interest was released from the PPIB for feasibility of this power plant on November 23, 2005.
The meeting was told that Smith Associated Power and Mining Company was setting up a 450-MW coal-fired power plant in Lakhra, while Fateh Group was working on coal mining activities and setting up a coal-fired power and coal washing plant at Lakhra.
About the Sondha-Jharak Coalfield, the meeting was told that it was 150 kilometres off Karachi and spread over an area of 1,206 square kilometres, where 7.122 billion tons coal was present. To set up a 250-MG coal-fired power house, and a coal mine with capacity of one million ton here, a Rs 180 million feasibility report was being prepared by China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation, which would be completed in 18 months.
The meeting also reviewed technical data about Meting-Jhampir, Badin and Thar coalfields. It was told that the Thar Coalfield with 175.506 billion tonnes of coal reserves was spread over 9,100 square kilometres and Euro 2.930 million would be spend on its feasibility. The meting was told that feasibility about provision of water in coalfields would also be conducted.
Sindh Chief Secretary Fazalur Rehman, Suhail Akbar Shah, Riaz A Memon, Abdul Nabi Memon, Shariq Raza and Syed Abbass Ali Shah were also present.