ISLAMABAD: The government is spending Rs131.619 million for appraisal of huge coal reserves confirmed by the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) in the year 2014 after extensive drillings started since 2012. “Rs 131.619 million will be used for appraisal of newly discovered coal resources in Badin and its adjoining areas of Southern Sindh,” official sources in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources said.
According to GSP, they said the coal deposits were estimated to be over one billion tones. “The coal is of good quality and high heating value.” Besides, the sources informed that there were substantial deposits of gold and copper and more than 200 million tonnes of iron ore but these could not be exploited or utilized because of lack of infrastructure and technology.
They said efforts were also being made for exploration of tertiary coal in Central Salt Range, Punjab aimed at meeting the growing domestic energy demand and develop coal fields and increasing power generation.
