LAHORE: The country’s first coal-based power plant, being built in Pind Dadan Khan, Punjab by the China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), will be completed by the end of year 2017.
More than 100 Chinese are working on the 300 MW project, which will bring Rs50 billion investment. The second part of this power generation is coal mining project in the area of Choa Saden Shah which will produce approximately 6000 tons of local coal per day to be used in the power plant at Pind Dadan Khan.
The CMEC will introduce semi-mechanized mining technique for the first time in the region. The mining project will bring an investment of Rs20 billion. Therefore, the total investment of first local coal based power plant and modern mining will be 700 million dollars i.e. Rs70 billion. This project will bring revolution in local economy as previously our coal was considered not fit for power production due to its high Sulfur, high Ash, thin Seam and difficult mining environment.
Moreover, Metallurgical Corporation of China has been working on estimation of metallic minerals in Chiniot and Rajoa including iron ore, copper, silver and gold. This project will be completed by the end of year 2016 and would pave the way for establishment of first Steel Mill of Punjab which will use its own locally produced iron ore. The value of the discovered iron ore and copper deposits runs into billions of dollars.
