Sindh CM says Thar coal for power generation saves $78m.

KARACHI -- Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the use of indigenous Thar Coal instead of imported coal for power generation has resulted in a saving of $78 million FOREX for the country.

'By procession toward `Economy of scale' Thar coal prices are reducing from initial $58 per ton to $32 per ton and with further expansion the prices will further reduce.' This he said while presiding over a Thar Coal and Energy Board (TCEB) meeting here at the CM House. The meeting was attended by board members, provincial ministers Shabir Bijarani, Imtiaz Shaikh, Murtaza Wahab, MNA Shazia Marri,Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary Energy Tariq Shah, (on video link from federal government): Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Jahanzeb Khan, Adl Secretary Finance Anwar Shaikh, Adl Secretary Energy Division Waseem Mukhtar and other concerned.

The CM said that Thar Coal Mining Block-II, phase-I was a 3.8 mtpa project and had been commissioned on July 10, 2019. It had extracted over six million tons of coal so far. He added that the power project of 660 MW (2X330 MW) was commissioned and supplying power to the national grid from July 10, 2019. The project had produced more than 3.5 GWH electricity. 'Had this project been provided imported coal it would have cost around $78 million to the exchequer but with the use of indigenous Thar coal we have saved $78millions,' Murad Ali Shah said and added by progressing toward Economy scale Thar Coal prices were reducing from initial $58 per ton to $32 per ton. He went on saying by further expansion to 15 mtpa or more Thar coal prices will further reduce by 50 percent and Thar Coal Tariff at around 5.5 US cent per kwh would be the cheapest base load in the country.

MinisterEnergy Imtiaz Shaikh briefing the Chief Minister said that Sindh Engro-Coal Mining Company (SECMC) was planning to expand the mine from 7.6 Mtpa to 13 Mtpa and they would supply 3.5 Mtpa to Lucky electric for which their agreements had already been made. The Chief Minister said that Sino Sindh Resources Ltd had been awarded Thar Block-1where they had stated work. 'In this way various mining projects were either in progress are in the pipeline, therefore...