Pakistan Mining Updates

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Rs 32.646m released for 3 petroleum sector projects

The government has released around Rs 32.646 million funds for three ongoing projects of the Petroleum Division under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP 2018-19) during last seven months of the current fiscal year against the total allocation of Rs 463.175 million. According to the official data issued by the Ministry of Planning, an amount of Rs 9.615 has been released for appraisal of newly discovered coal resources of Badin coal field and its adjoining areas of southern Sindh, Rs 10.225 million for exploration and evaluation of metallic minerals in Uthal and Bela areas of district Lasbela, Balochistan and Rs 12.806 for assessment of coal potential in Nosham and Bahlol areas of Balochistan.–APP

 

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19th PGMS intends to showcase hidden potential of gems and minerals sector

19th Pakistan Gems and Minerals show (PGMS) held here from April 15 to 17, 2019 with aim to provide a platform to showcase the hidden potential that exists in the local gems and stones sector. Organized by APCEA in collaboration with TDAP, the three-day show provide linkage to local and international investors and gems stone lovers.

Convener of Pakistan Gems and Minerals show 2019 Haji Dost Muhammad, said while talking to APP here on Friday that besides highlighting the real potential of the country in gems and minerals, the show will also help to highlight the issues and challenges being faced by the sector. He added that with participation of hundreds of gems and stones lovers and investors, the show will further help to attract the foreign and domestic investment in this sector and promote trade related activities in the country. He informed that number of precious and semi-precious stones including sapphire, tourmaline, rubies, peridot, emerald, tourmaline, turquoise, aquamarine and topaz by the gems and stones traders haling across different cities of the country including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Sawat and Gilgit will be showcased during the show.

 

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LAHORE:
Pakistan’s marble and granite industry can be transformed into a cutting-edge stone industry by adopting Chinese quarrying techniques, said the Pak-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) in a statement released.

SM Naveed, the PCJCCI president, met chairman Wang Zihai and discussed the possibility of increasing Pakistan’s exports of marble and granite with the collaboration of China.

Naveed said the industry could be taken under the fold of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), adding that provinces have huge deposits of ornamental stones that could be utilised.

 

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ISLAMABAD - The government will spend Rs581.812 million on four ongoing and two new petroleum sector projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP 2019-20) to achieve self-sufficiency in the energy sector. According to the official data, an amount of Rs433.852 million has been earmarked in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP 2019-20) for four ongoing schemes,
out of which Rs416.535 million would be spent to acquire four drilling rigs with accessories for the Geological Survey of Pakistan, Rs3.655 million for appraisal of newly discovered coal resources of Badin Coal Field and its adjoining areas of Southern Sindh, Rs10.553 million to explore and evaluate coal in Nosham and Bahlol areas of Balochistan, and Rs3.109 million for exploration and evaluation of metallic minerals in Uthal and Bela areas of district Lasbela.

https://nation.com.pk

 

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PESHAWAR - A group of Chinese investors met with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Mines and Minerals Dr. Amjad Ali here on Thursday in Civil Secretariat. International Mining company CEO, Mr Chen Jiangsu showed interest in marble and granite sector of the province. He said that the company had the capacity to increase the mechanize production of granite and marble above 100,000 ton in the province.

Minister Mines and Minerals Dr Amjad Ali said that mining sector had a huge potential of growth, and government was facilitating local and foreign investors in the province. He said that incumbent government was trying its best to provide a suitable environment for investors, and had a focus on ease of doing business. KP Mineral Minister said that government was encouraging mechanized mining the province, and under KP Mineral Governance Act, 2019 had banned the use of explosive material in extraction of mining, which would be ended phase wise.
He said that currently around seventy percent of the mineral become wasted due to the use of explosions in extraction of minerals. He added that the investment of such technology driven companies would not only increase the production of minerals in the province, but would also set an atmosphere of mechanized mining in the province.

Dr Amjad said that due to the intervention of government more than eighty percent of the illegal mining in the province had been ended. He stated that the revenue of mineral department had been increased by 100 in last four months, and with such investment the revenue will further explode.

The Minister stated that investors would play a vital role in growth of any economy, as investment creates jobs opportunities for the local and boost revenue. On the other hand Special Assistant to KP Chief Minister on Industries and Trade, Abdul Karim Khan has said that the provincial government is making all-out efforts for provision of all kind of facilities to foreign investors. Talking to a delegation of foreign investors here Thursday, the Special Assistant invited them for making investment in different sectors of the province and particularly in the mineral sector of the merged districts of the erstwhile FATA and assured them the provision of conducive and profitable environment for industries in the region

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Thar Coal Block-VI to produce 1320 MW power, gas, diesel, urea

Thar Coal Block-VI to produce 1320 MW power, gas, diesel, ureaThe Sindh government under CPEC projects is going to launch Thar Coal Block-IV as a national strategic project to develop coal mine, install 1320 MW coal-fired power project and produce gas, urea and diesel.

This was disclosed in a meeting held under between Minister Energy Imtiaz Shaikh and CEO of UK-based company, Oracle Ms Naheed Memon in the energy department. Minister Energy Imtiaz Shaikh said that with the efforts of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah Thar Block VI has been included as a potential block for coal to gas to urea/fertilizer production in CPEC-related 9th JCC meeting held on November 5, 2019.

The meeting had appreciated the concept to include Thar Block VI for coal gasification to Fertilizer projects under CPEC and desired to undertake a feasibility study for evaluation.” The Block VI, therefore is the only Block from Thar Coalfield in two working groups under the CPEC framework

 

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https://www.facebook.com/

Salt mining, Khewra , Punjab

 

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The Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) has carried out different surveys in #Chitral and surrounding areas, which identified presence of metallic minerals including Copper, Chromite and Iron Ore suggesting detailed exploration for their quantification.

"A number of geological, geophysical and geochemical surveys have been carried out by the GSP in Chitral District and surrounding areas. As a result of these metallic minerals like Antimony/Stibnite, Chromite, Copper, Iron Ore and Lead/Zinc ore have been discovered," according to an official documents available with APP.

The deposits of around 0.6 Million Tons (MT) Antimony/Stibnite had been identified in Kring, Patrson and Awrith areas, approximately 6.5 (MT) Iron Ore in Buni Zom, Dammel and Nissar localities of Chitral District, while detailed exploration was required to assess the quantity of Chromite, Copper and Lead/Zinc Ore.

According to the document, the GSP remained engaged in exploration of metallic and other minerals through geological mapping in District Chitral and surrounding areas under annual field projects.

Recently, the GSP has conducted a project titled 'Exploratory Studies for Metallic and Non-Metallic Mineralization' along Turkho River and its surrounding areas, District Upper Chitral, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. "Field-work has been completed, samples have been sent for laboratory analysis and report writing is in progress." The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has granted several prospecting/exploration licenses in District Chitral for minerals including aluminum, antimony, chromium, copper, gold, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, platinum, silver and zin. Besides, it launched a scheme for geological mapping of the province under the Annual Development Program.

 

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Pakistan’s $6 Billion Reko Diq Penalty Might Get Annulled After Arbitrator Found Guilty

The prospects of Pakistan’s $6 billion penalty in the Reko Diq case to be waived off have received a significant boost.

Recently, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) nixed a €128 million penalty imposed on Spain after an arbitrator Stanimir Alexandrov, who had represented the claimants in the case against Pakistan as well, was found guilty of conflict of interest.
It is pertinent to note that ICSID has annulled an award for the first time due to the arbitrator’s lack of impartiality and independence.

Following the development, Pakistan has once again knocked on ICSID’s door for the annulment of the $6 billion penalty in the Reko Diq case.

Legal experts have suggested Pakistan should raise objection over the inclusion of Stanimir Alexandrov of Bulgaria in the tribunal.

Pakistan’s legal team Allen & Overy LLP had also previously applied for the disqualification of the Bulgarian arbitrator from the tribunal but failed to convince the ICSID.

In July 2019, the ICSID had imposed a $6 billion penalty on Pakistan following the Supreme Court’s decision in 2011 which revoked the mining lease of Tethyan Copper Company (TCC), a consortium of Chilean and Canadian companies, for the Reko Diq project.

 

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Plan to establish mineral exploration company approved

June 18, 2020

Balochistan to 90 per cent shares in the company and remaining 10pc would go to federal govt. — APP/File


QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review the proposed plan for establishing the Balochistan Mineral Exploration Company (BMEC).

The meeting decided to appoint the secretary for Minerals and Mineral Development as its interim chief executive officer and approved a seven-member board of directors for the proposed company.

It was agreed at the meeting that Balochistan would have 90 per cent shares in the company and the remaining 10pc would go to the federal government. The head office of the company would be established in Quetta while a branch office would be set up in Islamabad.

The meeting agreed to include experts from the minerals sector in the board of directors.

It was also decided that a Chagai Foundation would be set up with the aim to develop the economic and social sectors in the Chagai district.

Provincial Finance Minister Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Chief Secretary Fazeel Asghar, Finance Secretary Noorul Haq Baloch and other federal and provincial officials concerned attended the meeting.

Chief Minister Jam Kamal told the meeting that with the establishment of the BMEC, there would be improvement in the mining sector and mineral resources of the province would be developed which would not just boost investors’ confidence but also enhance investment in the sector.

“The Balochistan government will initially allocate funds for the BMEC and also provide a platform to private companies in the province,” he said.

He said that the company would also take steps to provide training in the field of mineral resources to the youth of Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2020

 

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Chinese company allowed exploration in Saindak area

July 01, 2020

NoC issued for exploration and development of East Ore Body in Saindak lease area. — Photo by Muhammad Akbar Notezai/File
QUETTA: The Balochistan government has allowed Chinese firm Metrological Construction Company of China (MCC) — registered locally with the name of Saindak Metals Limited (SML) — the exploration and development of East Ore Body in Saindak lease area and the company has been issued an NoC for the purpose.

Official sources said on Monday that the provincial government also extended the contract of MCC/SML for another 15 years under which the company would continue exploration work on East Ore Body site after the expiry of its present contract on Oct 31, 2022. The MCC, working at the Saindak-Gold-cum-Copper Project since 2002, applied the Balochistan Mines and Mineral Department to allow the company to start exploration work on the East Ore Body of Saindak lease area as its exploration work at the present Saindak site had almost finished.

Officials said the contract agreement of the SML/MCC was scheduled to expire on Oct 31, 2022, and the Balochistan chief minister approved it for another 15 years. “The extension of MCC-SML contract would ensure investment of $45 million by MCC/SML at their own risk for exploration and development of East Ore Body in Saindak area,” said an official letter sent to the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum Division.

However, the letter said that the matter of extension of the SML mining lease (valid up to 2025) would be dealt with separately as per provisions of the Balochistan Minerals Rules, 2002.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2020

 

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ILO offers assistance on marble mines

K-P provides a suitable environment for industrial development in all respects says ILO offical

September 26, 2020

PESHAWAR: The International Labor Organisation (ILO) has said that it was ready to assist the provincial government in making mines safe. This was stated by the ILO Pakistan Head Ingrid Christensen during a meeting with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Labour Minister Shaukat Yousafzai on Thursday.

The ILO official expressed sorrow over the recent tragedy in the Mohmand district. Yousafzai said that the government is in the process of enacting legislation to prevent such incidents in the future. The ILO official said that K-P provides a suitable environment for industrial development in all respects and the provincial government should learn from international experiences for future planning.


Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2020.

 

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“Room and pillar mining method is used to extract salt from the mines. The salt in Khewra is the best in the world which is found in three different colours, white, red and pink,” Fayaz Hussain, a tourist guide, explained.

Apart from high quality salt, Khewra is also famous for gypsum, limestone, lime clay, potash, coal and other minerals.

Benefits for locals

Local residents feel pride that they live nearby the world’s second largest salt mines that are also a famous tourist spot.

The mines are considered the oldest in the salt mining history of the sub-continent.

With 98 per cent purity, the salt production in 2018 was estimated at 389,134 tonnes per annum. Besides the revenue the production brings in, a handsome amount is earned via the 40,000-plus tourists which visit the site each month.