CM says $1.3bn to be invested in Thar for power generation, coal mines development.

Byline: Hasan Mansoor

KARACHI -- Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday said his government had achieved milestones in developing Thar coal for Pakistan's self-sufficiency in energy by achieving financial close for installation of a 1320-megawatt power plant in Block-I and expansion of Block-II for development of another 660-MW power plant.

'Under these financial closes $1.3 billion will be invested in Thar for generation of 1,980-MW electricity and development of two coal mines to produce 10.6 metric ton per annum,' he said while speaking at a conference on public announcement of the financial close of two mines here at CM House.

The conference was attended by Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh, Law Adviser to CM Murtaza Wahab, energy secretary Musadiq Khan, principal secretary to CM Sajid Jamal Abro, Thar Coal and Energy Board chief Tariq Shah and others.

'This is really a New Year gift our government is presenting to the people of Pakistan, particularly people of Sindh,' said the chief minister.

Mr Shah said the first threat to the national development was terrorism and then energy crisis was the dangerous threat.

'We crushed terrorists and then focused on development of Thar coal to generate electricity; and now we are also succeeding in defeating loadshedding,' he said.

A government spokesperson said that the Sino Sindh Resources Ltd, a Chinese company, had achieved a financial close of $1.06bn for development of 7.8mpta coal mine in Block-I of Thar coalfields.

The mine will supply this coal to 1,320-MW coal-fired power plant, which would bring in another $2bn of foreign direct investment (FDI).

Another achievement, the conference was told, was the financial close of $215 million achieved for developing the second phase of 3.8mpta coal mine as an expansion to the first phase of the Sindh Engro Coal Mines Company (SECMC) coal mine in Thar Coal Block-II, thus reaching 7.6mpta under both phases.

'Under the first phase of this mine, 660-MW power is already being generated. The second phase will also...