According to newspaper reports, renowned scientists and chairman of the Thar Coal Gasification Project Dr Samar Mobarakmand has said that his project will start electricity generation from February next year. The project, launched by the Planning Commission of Pakistan, will be the first of its kinds in which local coal will be used to generate electricity. The one of the promising aspect about this project is that there is no need to dig out coal from the ground but the coal will be converted into gas deep underground by using modern technology. This gas will be used to generate electricity. The underground conversion of coal into gas will also save additional charges of digging out coal from the ground while the electricity will be available at Rs 5 a unit. Currently, electricity made of diesel costs Rs 23 per unit and by furnace oil Rs 20 per unit. Mobarakmand has invited the private sector organisations to invest in the electricity generation projects, saying that there is no limit to produce electricity by converting coal into gas at the Thar Coal Project and it will cost Rs 5 per unit. Make as much electricity as you can at this rate, he says.
According to Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) and the United State Agency for International Development, the Thar coal deposits are the 6th largest coal reserves in the world, making Pakistan to emerge as one of the leading countries in the world in natural resources. The reserves, which are restricted to Paleocene and Eocene rock sequences, are one of the world’s largest lignite deposits discovered by Geological Survey of Pakistan in 90s, and are spreading over more than 9,000 square meters. The deposits comprise nearly 175 billion tons of coal which is sufficient to meet the country’s energy requirements for 500 years.
Currently, Pakistan is at seventh in the list of top 20 countries of the world after the discovery of coal resources in Tharparker district in Sindh. Ironically, the deposits are located in the district which is one of the most backward districts in Sindh province. When industry develops in a particular locality it brings a boon for the people down there.
It is good news for the nation that the project is taking off pretty soon which hit snags many times in the past. Earlier, a Chinese company was given the contract to develop coalfields, but it abandoned the project and even left the country on the issue of per unit electricity price. It is hoped that the current project will bring a new era of development and prosperity for the nation.
