KARACHI: The Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) MD Dr Shabir has said that taking unprecedented lead in producing electricity on coal gas energy, first UCG is going to launch its first power plant in Thar in April 2015.
UCG MD Dr Shabir said that the Sindh govt allotted Block-5 of Thar Coal field to UCG to generate underground coal gas known as Syn gas to produce electricity. He said “in the first phase an experimental structure was raised under which pipes were drilled down 160 meters deep into the coalfield to reach the coal bed.
After pumping out underground water lying near coal bed fired the coal underground and produced coal gas. The gas was supplied to the experimental plant and lit the flame. With the grace of God the project succeeded, he claimed” Dr. Shabir recalled that in the original scheme under the UCG, 100 MW power plant was to be installed at a cost of Rs nine billion but the government was short of fund, therefore it was launched as a pilot project to install 10 MW power plant. “Initially we are launching 4 MW electricity and within a month its capacity would be enhanced to 10 MW and then to 100 MW,” he said. He said “ we are going to organise an impressive launching ceremony at the plant site, Islamkot, Thar to kick of this unique project of the country”.
