Inaugurating the project, Shehbaz says it will help save $6b in energy imports n Not benefitting from country’s local coal reserves was a huge mistake n Chinese ambassador appreciates Pak Army for providing foolproof security to Chinese working on development projects.
MITHI - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that amid skyrocketing fuel prices, the inexpensive energy production from Thar Coal Mines Project would prove to be a game-changer of development for the entire country as it could help the government to save up to $6 billion as the expenditure on the import of energy including petrol and liquid petroleum touched $24 billion.
The PM said this while addressing the inauguration of the commercial operations of Phase-II of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) and during his visit to Thar Coal Mines Block-II, Islamkot, Mithi, on Monday.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong were also present on the occasion.
The PM said that amid the skyrocketing fuel prices, the Thar Coal project was high on the agenda for the federal government in view of the reduced cost of power generation.
On March 2023, he said the Thar Coal Mines Project would be connected through a freight rail track for the transportation of coal to other parts of the country.
He regretted that had the work on Thar coal not stalled since its first mining of reserves in 1991, the project would have produced 10,000 megawatts.
Shahbaz said not benefitting from the country’s indigenous coal reserves was a huge mistake and announced to convene a meeting of stakeholders on Thar
Coal mines next week to discuss formalities. He also said the federal government in collaboration with the Sindh government would chalk out a policy framework on the Thar Coal Mines project, with an objective to connect it with other coal-powered power plants in the country producing 4,000 megawatts. The international cost of coal had come down from $67 to $44 and had prospects of further reduction up to $30, he mentioned.
The prime minister said the Thar Coal project would save the country’s foreign exchange and help to thrive the national economy. He lauded the Sindh government, HUBCO, the Government of China, and the Chinese companies for training the local professionals, workers and also appreciated the women working in the field including at water plants and dumping trucks.
The PM expressed satisfaction that Thar was undergoing fast development after former prime minister Benazir Bhutto first visited the area in 1996 and envisioned a prosperity plan for the locals of Tharparkar.
On the occasion, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Thar, once used to be known for malnutrition, infant and maternal mortality rate, had now emerged as a game changer and a public-partnership model of development.
The Thar Coal Mines project had contributed to the provision of job opportunities to the local people of Thar, thus improving their lifestyles, he expressed adding that under public-partnership projects, the barren desert of Thar was now witnessing crop irrigation and fish breeding even with the use of hard water.
On the occasion, the Sindh chief minister apprised that the provincial government allocated 40 percent equity along with 60 percent contributed by Sindh Engro in the public-private partnership on the Thar Coal mines project.
He termed the Sindh province as the ‘energy basket of Pakistan’, with immense potential of natural energy resources, including solar and wind energy. In his remarks, Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong congratulated the Government of Pakistan on the successful completion of the project and hoped that the new power block would help overcome energy shortage, and provide reliable and affordable electricity.
He also thanked the Pakistan army for providing foolproof security to the Chinese professionals working in the country. As an ‘Iron brother’, China would be happy to continue assisting Pakistan to help it achieve prosperity, he added.
Syed Murad Ali Shah also presented samples of indigenous Thar coal to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Chinese envoy Nong Rong. Chairman Hub Power Company Limited (Hubco) Habibullah Khan said Hubco continued to be Pakistan’s largest Independent Power Producer and contributed $US 5 billion to the country in four CPEC projects.
He said Hubco’s investment in the production of the cheapest power was significant for ensuring long-term energy security in the country. Sindh Energy Minister and Chairman SECMC Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh said the Thar energy power project would contribute to adding electricity to the national grid. He mentioned the support of Shanghai Electric Power Company Limited and the experts from China, who worked hard to materialize the project. Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Sindh Energy Minister and Chairman SECMC Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh, senior officials, and representatives of Chinese companies were also present on the occasion