Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said inexpensive energy production from the Thar Coal Mines Project would prove to be a game-changer of development for the country amid skyrocketing fuel prices.

 The Thar Coal Mines Project could help the government save up to $6 billion as the expenditure on the import of energy including petrol and liquid petroleum had touched $24 billion, he said, while addressing the commercial operations inauguration of the second phase of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) during his visit to Thar Coal Mines Block-II.

The prime minister on the occasion inaugurated a 330 MW power plant of Thar Energy Limited (TEL) and also inspected the construction site of SECMC Mine Phase-II at Islamkot.

Shehbaz Sharif said it was a big mistake not to benefit from the country’s indigenous coal reserves and announced convening a meeting of stakeholders on Thar Coal Mines next week to discuss the formalities. 

He said the federal government, in collaboration with the Sindh government, would chalk out a policy framework on the Thar Coal Mines project with an objective to connect it with other coal-powered power plants in the country, producing 4,000 megawatts.

He said the international cost of coal had fallen to $44 from $67 and had prospects of further falling to $30. The coal-powered plants would prove to be a feasible operation for electricity production at Rs 10 per unit, he added.

The prime minister said the Thar Coal Project would save the country’s foreign exchange and help thrive the national economy.

In March 2023, he said the Thar Coal Mines Project would be connected through a freight rail track for the transportation of coal to other parts of the country.

He lauded the Sindh government, Hubco, the Government of China, and Chinese companies for training the local professionals and workers and also appreciated the women working in the field including at water plants and dump trucks. 

He expressed satisfaction that Thar was undergoing fast development after former prime minister Benazir Bhutto first visited the area in 1996 and envisioned a prosperity plan for the locals.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Thar used to be known for malnutrition and infant and maternal mortality rates. It had now emerged as a game-changer and a public-partnership model of development, he added.

He said that the Thar Coal Mines Project had created job opportunities for the local people of Thar, thus improving their lifestyles. 

He said under the public-partnership projects, the barren desert of Thar was now witnessing crop irrigation and fish breeding even with the use of hard water.

Bilawal stressed replicating collaborative projects in other parts of the country and expressed confidence that the prime minister would materialize the development plans at a fast pace.

Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah said the Sindh government allocated 40% equity along with 60% contributed by Sindh Engro in the public-private partnership on the Thar Coal Mines Project.

He regretted that if the work on the Thar coal project had not stalled since its first mining of reserves in 1991, it would have produced 10,000 megawatts of power.

He termed Sindh province as the “energy basket of Pakistan” with immense potential for natural energy resources, including solar and wind energy.

Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong congratulated the Pakistan government on the successful completion of the project and lauded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his “consistent devotion and firm support” in strengthening Pakistan-China cooperation including in the CPEC projects.

He hoped that the new power bloc would help overcome energy shortage and provide reliable and affordable electricity.

The envoy thanked the Pakistan Army for providing foolproof security to the Chinese professionals working in the country. As an “Iron Brother”, he said China would be happy to continue assisting Pakistan to help it achieve prosperity.

Chairman Hub Power Company Limited (Hubco) Habibullah Khan said that his company continued to be Pakistan’s largest Independent Power Producer and contributed $5 billion to the country in the four CPEC projects.

He said Hubco’s investment in the production of the cheapest power was significant for ensuring long-term energy security in the country.

Sindh Energy Minister and Chairman SECMC Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh said the Thar Energy Power project would contribute to adding electricity to the national grid.

He mentioned the support of Shanghai Electric Power Company Limited and the Chinese experts, who worked hard to materialize the project.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah presented samples of indigenous Thar coal to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto and Chinese Ambassador in Islamabad Nong Rong.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk