A 40-member delegation of a Chinese company is due here on Thursday to conduct the detailed coal geological investigation (DCGI) in Sonda-Jherruk area of Thatta district for setting up two coal-fired power plants, each of 300MW.
Sources told Business Recorder on Wednesday that the delegation of China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) would start work on detailed investigation in about a week. Three members of the delegation have already arrived here to determine the possibilities of starting the work at the earliest. The CMC had signed an agreement with Sindh government on November 25 this year to conduct work for setting up these power plants.
The CMC's geological investigation would be completed in three months and later on it would start coal-mining and set up the two power plants. The Chinese company would bear the cost of detailed coal geological investigation.
As is well known, the coal reserves at Sonda-Jherruk are the second largest in Sindh comprising more than seven billion tonnes coal. The area is located at a distance of around 150 km in north-east of Karachi and about 30 km in south-east of Hyderabad, where all required infrastructure has been made provided by the provincial government.
The CMC has to arrange investment and ensure availability of coal deposits on long-term basis like 30-40 years to meet the requirements and establishment of power plants. The project would generate 2,000 to 3,000 jobs for local people, sources added.