Thar Coal Mines project to be a game-changer for Pakistan, says PM Shehbaz Sharif

THARPARKAR (92 News) - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that amid the skyrocketing fuel prices, the cheaper energy production from the Thar Coal Mines project would prove as a game-changer for development of the entire country.

While addressing the inauguration of the commercial operations of Phase-II of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company during his visit to Thar Coal Mines Block-II in Tharparkar on Monday, he said that Thar Coal Project could help the government save up to six billion dollars as the expenditure on the import of energy including petrol and liquid petroleum touched 24 billion dollars. “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 rest of coal-powered power plants in the country producing 4,000 megawatt of electricity. The coal gasification could be used to make Syngas for fertilizers and would save billions in foreign exchange,” he added.

The prime minister said that Thar Coal Mines project would be connected on 23rd March through a freight rail track for the transportation of coal to other parts of the country.

Addressing on the occasion, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Thar has now emerged as a game changer and a public-partnership model of development. “The Thar Coal Mines project has contributed to the provision of job opportunities to the local people of Thar, thus improving their lifestyles.”

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah said that the Sindh government allocated 40 percent equity along with 60 percent contributed by Sindh Engro in the public-private partnership on Thar Coal mines project.

He termed Sindh province as the ‘energy basket of Pakistan’, with immense potential of natural energy resources, including solar and wind energy.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong congratulated the government of Pakistan on the successful completion of the project and lauded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his “consistent devotion and firm support” in strengthening Pakistan-China cooperation including in CPEC projects.

He hoped that the new power block would help overcome energy shortage, and provide reliable and affordable electricity.