Sindh for incorporation of Thar Coal block VI as National Strategic Project

Dec 16, 2019: Sindh Minister for Energy, Imtiaz A Shaikh, on Monday said in view of tremendous potential of Block VI, Thar Coal, the provincial government is keen to get it incorporated as a national strategic project.

Talking to a delegation that called on him at his office, he said the mentioned block has already been included in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) due to its tremendous potential in terms of gas generation and consequent production of urea/fertilizer as well as liquid fuel.

"Provincial government is keen to initiate a national strategic project encompassing proper mining of coal, setting up of a 1,320 MW coal fire project besides production of gas, urea/fertilizer and diesel," said the minister for energy.

As for viability of the scheme, he said Block VI of Thar Coal has an estimated reserves of 1.4 billion tones of coal and this has already been included as a potential block for coal to gas to urea production due to efforts put in by Sindh CM, Syed Murad Ali Shah.

The decision in this regard, he said was made during the recently held 9th joint coordination committee meeting on CPEC.

The Energy Minister said through adequate expansion of coal mine the urea production could be pioneered through cheaper surface gasification and liquids (including diesel) at almost one third of the existing price.

It was mentioned that Block VI is located in the centre of the coal field and covers an area of 66.1 square kilometers.

The site was cited to have been extensively drilled and the samples of recovered coal have been tested to be of international standards.

APP