Nuclear scientist Dr Samar Mubarik Mand and his team have successfully experimented to produce gas from coal reserves present in Thar desert. Talking to Aaj News on Wednesday, he said the production of gas from coal is a ray of hope in the current situation of energy crisis, which will change the economic condition of our country.
He said this will be the biggest project of the world in producing gas through coal and initially we will generate 100 MW of electricity. He said we burnt coal at 450-ft underground by UCG technology in Islamkot on 11th December. He said we have successfully carried out the experiment of emitting gas by flaming it this month.
Dr Samar disclosed that the life of reserves will last for 500 years. He said Thar coal is the third biggest coal reserve but unfortunately it has not been utilised. He said producing electricity is not the issue but the real issue is production of cheap electricity in abundance.
He said the government is not providing enough funds which is the biggest hurdle in the development of the project. He said federal government does not seem interested but Sindh government has to take a step forward. He demanded Rs 9 billion for further extension of the project and to buy power generators.
He said Thar coal Block 5 has the capacity to generate 10,000 MW of electricity and 100 million barrel of diesel annually for the next 30 years. He said Pakistan is rich in minerals and there are more than $500 million reserves of gold and copper in Rekodick and Sandak only.
He said it is shameful to stop the construction of Kalabagh Dam and disclosed that technically Basha Dam is not feasible. He said that trouble could rise during the installation of its transmission lines, which will cause the loss of energy.