FORGETTING THAR? is the new govt ignoring Thar coal?

[ziaulislam]

Sindh irked by attention given to Gadani
By Our Correspondent
Published: August 27, 2013



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The chief minister stressed on the need for utilisation of indigenous coal. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ FILE
KARACHI:

The Sindh government has expressed its reservation over the federal government’s insistence to rely solely on imported coal for the Gadani power project and said that the PML N led government’s decision was fundamentally against the development of Thar coal.

“The federal government is diverting all focus and resources towards the Gadani project leaving nothing for Thar. We are not against the development and the power project proposed in Balochistan, but Thar should be given equal priority,” said Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah while presiding over a meeting with Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) and Thar Power Company (TPC) at the Chief Minister House on Monday.

The meeting broadly discussed SECMC’s progress on the Thar coal project, and formed a steering committee comprising Adviser Finance Murad Ali Shah, Chairman Sindh Board of Investment Muhammad Zubair Motiwala and secretary energy to expedite the scientific and technical formal work.

“The meeting also decided that representatives of the Sindh government would hold meetings with the prime minister to impress upon the federal government to take both Gadani and Thar together,” said a spokesperson.

The committee formed will request the federal government to resolve all outstanding problems related to the ministries of finance, water and power, petroleum and natural resources and railways. The chief minister stressed on the need for utilisation of indigenous coal.

CEO SECMC Shamsuddin Shaikh, who delivered the presentation on SECMC’s progress on the Thar Coal Power Project, said that the government of Sindh and Engro have worked hard to bring the dream of Thar closer to reality.

The project cost has been significantly reduced, by upto 40% the company has made headway on financing the project. Chinese banks have expressed willingess to support the power project without Sovereign Guarantee, said Shaikh, adding the Council of Common Interests has agreed in principle to allow the blending of Thar Coal in a new 1,200 megawatt power plant at Jamshoro.

He further told the meeting that the power project can be completed in three years as of Jan 2014 – earlier than any other power project being envisaged. The house was briefed about the cost effectiveness of the Thar Coal project and a comparison was made between proposed power plants in Gadani and Thar explaining different angles of both the projects.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th 2013.

 

[A.Rafay]

"Sindh irked by attention given to gadani"?? Why would sindh be irked?? Haq parast people of 90 might be irked! Developing Gadani is a good idea and beneficial for Pakistans economy.

 

[ziaulislam]

No sindh is irked bg idea of imported co rather than local coal
Uts obvious that gaddani wil be an imported coal peoject

 

[Black Eagle 90]

Sindh irked by attention given to Gadani
By Our Correspondent
Published: August 27, 2013



Share this article
Print this page
Email



The chief minister stressed on the need for utilisation of indigenous coal. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ FILE
KARACHI:

The Sindh government has expressed its reservation over the federal government’s insistence to rely solely on imported coal for the Gadani power project and said that the PML N led government’s decision was fundamentally against the development of Thar coal.

“The federal government is diverting all focus and resources towards the Gadani project leaving nothing for Thar. We are not against the development and the power project proposed in Balochistan, but Thar should be given equal priority,” said Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah while presiding over a meeting with Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) and Thar Power Company (TPC) at the Chief Minister House on Monday.

The meeting broadly discussed SECMC’s progress on the Thar coal project, and formed a steering committee comprising Adviser Finance Murad Ali Shah, Chairman Sindh Board of Investment Muhammad Zubair Motiwala and secretary energy to expedite the scientific and technical formal work.

“The meeting also decided that representatives of the Sindh government would hold meetings with the prime minister to impress upon the federal government to take both Gadani and Thar together,” said a spokesperson.

The committee formed will request the federal government to resolve all outstanding problems related to the ministries of finance, water and power, petroleum and natural resources and railways. The chief minister stressed on the need for utilisation of indigenous coal.

CEO SECMC Shamsuddin Shaikh, who delivered the presentation on SECMC’s progress on the Thar Coal Power Project, said that the government of Sindh and Engro have worked hard to bring the dream of Thar closer to reality.

The project cost has been significantly reduced, by upto 40% the company has made headway on financing the project. Chinese banks have expressed willingess to support the power project without Sovereign Guarantee, said Shaikh, adding the Council of Common Interests has agreed in principle to allow the blending of Thar Coal in a new 1,200 megawatt power plant at Jamshoro.

He further told the meeting that the power project can be completed in three years as of Jan 2014 – earlier than any other power project being envisaged. The house was briefed about the cost effectiveness of the Thar Coal project and a comparison was made between proposed power plants in Gadani and Thar explaining different angles of both the projects.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th 2013.

Pakistan should welcome Middle East investors in this project in order to produce about 11GW electricity in coming 5 years.

 

[ziaulislam]

Pakistan should welcome Middle East investors in this project in order to produce about 11GW electricity in coming 5 years.

middle east guys just like to keep their money in banks they dont invest anywhere

 

[Durrak]

Self Deleted ........

 

[Black Eagle 90]

middle east guys just like to keep their money in banks they dont invest anywhere

No if you offer then good opportunity they will invest.

Also welcome them in construction of dams, windmills and solar pannels too.

 

[niaz]

Air dried Peat has been used as fuel for hundreds of years and can also be used for power generation. I knew of 2 power stations in Ireland located at Shanon & Lanesbrough which were based on Peat as fuel. After these were shut down due to old age, Foster Wheeler corporation constructed 2 new peat fired power plants West Offlay Power ( 150 MW) & Lough Ree Power ( 100MW) for Irish electricity in 2005.

Lignite has lot higher carbon content that Peat and thought to have formed from peat at shallow depths and at low temperatures. Lignite is normally found at depths of about 300 feet and therefore mined as ‘Open Pit’. This means it a very large pit is dug and Lignite is than separated from the gravel. A single mining operation Mine covering an area of about 5,000 acres is quite normal. Lignite has to be dried and then mechanically compressed before it can be burned as fuel.
Additionally you need to install scrubbers to remove H2S and also dispose- off a lot of ash which is generated when lignite is burned.

There is no earthly reason why Thar coal cannot be used for producing electricity. Lignite is still a major source of power generation in Germany.

It is a real pity that Thar coal is being ignored. Main reason being given is that it expensive to mine, produce and burn. However what is lacking is political will to make do with what we have available. We will never be self reliant if we ignore what riches we have.

 

[Argus Panoptes]

..........
There is no earthly reason why Thar coal cannot be used for producing electricity. Lignite is still a major source of power generation in Germany.

It is a real pity that Thar coal is being ignored. Main reason being given is that it expensive to mine, produce and burn. However what is lacking is political will to make do with what we have available. We will never be self reliant if we ignore what riches we have.

How can political will make up for adverse financials of lignite-based power generation? It is simply not cost-effective to exploit on a large scale in the present environment. That is a basic hurdle, without surmounting which Thar coal will remain buried.

 

[Bilal.]

How can political will make up for adverse financials of lignite-based power generation? It is simply not cost-effective to exploit on a large scale in the present environment. That is a basic hurdle, without surmounting which Thar coal will remain buried.

We have already had a long discussion disproving the notion that it's not cost effective to use Thar's lignite for power production. Please don't spread the misinformation again.

 

[Argus Panoptes]

We have already had a long discussion disproving the notion that it's not cost effective to use Thar's lignite for power production. Please don't spread the misinformation again.

The proof of the proverbial pudding is in the eating. If and when Thar coal is cost-effective, it will be utilized. Please let me know when that happens.

 

[Bilal.]

The proof of the proverbial pudding is in the eating. If and when Thar coal is cost-effective, it will be utilized. Please let me know when that happens.

So what you are saying is scientific bankable feasibilities are all wrong? Bhasha dam and Dasu dam are not reality yet, the only proof that they can produce 4500 odd MW of electricity each in an economically viable way is in feasibility studies. Should we conclude that it's all a bunch of lies too, because hey, the proof of pudding is in the eating. All your points are in word play without single factual backing with "hard data", all of which in today's modern data driven world amount to zilch.

 

[Bilal.]

bankable feasibility study:
An extensive technical and financial study to assess the commercial viability of a project, of sufficient detail and integrity that it can be used to arrange project financing.

Thar bankable feasibility study

 

[anonymus]

It is a real pity that Thar coal is being ignored. Main reason being given is that it expensive to mine, produce and burn. However what is lacking is political will to make do with what we have available. We will never be self reliant if we ignore what riches we have.

Thar coal is of lignite variety containing high ash and moisture content. To top it, it is located in a far off area.

Transporting coal by 10 miles double it's cost. This is usually overcome by setting up coal fired plant near pitheads but in your case, coal reserves are located in arid areas.This lead to an additional problem of lack of coolant water supplies making set-up of thermal plant unfeasible.

Probably it has nothing to do with politics.

 

[Argus Panoptes]

bankable feasibility study:
An extensive technical and financial study to assess the commercial viability of a project, of sufficient detail and integrity that it can be used to arrange project financing.

Thar bankable feasibility study

So what is the delay is securing the financing? Because the "feasibility" may not be there?