ISLAMABAD, Feb. 2 (INP):  Shanghai Electric on Monday celebrated discovery of the first seam in its 7.8-million-ton per annum open-pit coal mining project in Tharparkar district, Sindh, Pakistan, Gwadar Pro reported on Wednesday.

The 145-metre deep coal seam has an estimated reserve of 3 billion tons of coal deposits, according to the company.

The Sino-Sindh Resources Ltd. (SSRL) Coal Mine Project is part of the Thar Coal Block-I Integrated Coal Mining and Power Project sponsored by Shanghai Electric under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The over $3 billion integrated project also includes a 1,320 megawatts coal-fired power project, which is also near completion. The project is most awaited in Pakistan for being a major source of reliable and affordable indigenous coal-based electricity.

An official of the media wing of Shanghai Electric’s Pakistan operations told Gwadar Pro that a ceremony was held to celebrate unearthing of the first coal layer, which was attended by the Chinese and Pakistani staff members of the company.

The official also shared a picture of the ceremony, with the mine workers gathered at the site where the first coal layer was unearthed, and holding out a banner inscribed as, “Warmly celebrate disclosure of Coal Seam A of Pakistan’s Thar Coal Mine Project”.