Study on two blocks of Thar Coal completed

HYDERABAD: Sindh Secretary for Coal and Energy Department, Younus Dhaga, has said that out of four, study on two blocks of Thar Coal and Energy Project has been completed while work on remaining two is being carried out with rapid pace.

He said that execution work by two companies is expected by next June 2012 while the project would start its generation by2013-2014.

Talking the official media at Mirpurkhas on Tuesday, Younus Dhaga said that after power generation, Thar Coal and Energy Project would not only fulfill the energy requirement of the country but gradually it would enable the country to export the same in future.

When asked about taking more time in generation, the Secretary said that actually the coal reserves were under the depth varying from100 to 200 meter and the job of excavation and removal of waste is time consuming.

He informed that many other relating schemes of laying infrastructure were in the way to make the project successful.

Giving details of some major schemes, he said that PC-I for construction /reconstruction of road from Karachi to Thatta, Badin,Mithi and Islamkot with its estimated last of Rs. 4.5 billion has been submitted for approval and shortly it will be approved.

Similarly another scheme for disposal of waste water from excavated coal mines has been approved with estimated cost of Rs. 3.5billion.

He said that the PC-I of the most important scheme of laying transmission line from Islamkot to Matiari prepared by Water & Power Development Authority is also under approval and it is expected that work on this scheme to be started in December 2011.

Responding to the question about utilization of effluent of LBOD in Thar Coal Energy Project, the Secretary Coal and Energy said that study on this scheme is in progress and execution work could be started in February 2011.

He said that according to the scheme the water coming through LBOD would be utilized for Thar Coal and Energy Development Project after its treatment at the point of store.

He said that this water would be stored at RD-362 of LBOD near Nabisir from where it to be treated and supplied to the Islamkot.

He said that work on Thar coal project is in full swing and many national and international companies have expressed their interest of investment on its other blocks.

He said that this project would not only to fulfill the energy requirement of the country but also to create job opportunities and other business activities particularly at areas of Tharparkar and generally in Sindh province and subsequently it to raise the purchasing power of the people.

He said that this project to be proved a project of prosperity for the country.