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Power plants at Thar Coal: Czech Republic unlikely to invest 500 million euros

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Power plants at Thar Coal: Czech Republic unlikely to invest 500 million euros


KARACHI (June 25 2010): The Czech Republic is unlikely to invest 500 million euros for setting up of 300 to 600MW coal-fired power plants at Thar Coal due to lack of response from the Sindh government, it is reliably learnt. Well-placed sources told Business Recorder on Thursday that the WTC Group of the Czech Republic had shown keen interest in bringing investment of at least 500 million euros at Thar Coal for coal-fired power plants of 300 to 600 MW.

The joint venture (JV) between Al-Abbas Group and the Sindh government was also proposed on the basis of 60:40 equity ratio. However, the Czech Republic has warned Sindh government of leaving the project citing lack of response from bureaucracy as the main reason, they added. To materialise the project, the chief minister had also constituted a committee with Additional Chief Secretary (Dev) as chairman and secretaries of finance, law and coal and energy development department and the secretary to CM as committee members, they said, adding that no progress was made on the JV agreement due to apathy of authorities concerned.

Sources said the lack of interest of Sindh government officials towards the country's vast coal reserves would leave a negative impact on the country's credibility. It seems that the Sindh government is not sincere in facilitating foreign investors, sources said and added that WTC Group has recently expressed concern over the lack of response by Sindh government and warned of leaving Thar Coal project like China did.

"We would like to inform you that thus far we have not received any information from you. We are beginning to believe that the government of Sindh is not taking 'coal' as a serious asset for its province and for solving energy crisis in Pakistan," according to a letter forwarded by Technical Director, WTC Group, Karel Galuska to Secretary Coal and Energy Development Department Aijaz Khan on June 21, 2010.

"As you are aware that WTC is extremely serious about this project, the Director of EGAP Petr Martasek himself visited Pakistan in December 2009 and met Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah. During that meeting the director saw Shah's leadership in action and his endorsement of this project by suggesting that the GoS will come in as 40 percent equity partner," the letter says.

"Based on that positive meeting, Martasek continued to follow up the progress of the JV agreement. He is very discouraged to find out that after 6 months government of Sindh is still not able to sign off on the project which is supposed to be completed in 24 months," it added.

"We truly hope you understand our position and that bringing in funding of approximately 500 million euros at this time in Pakistan is not an easy task. We truly believe that this venture will open door for all coal exploration in Pakistan and this will be the first coal mine and large coal-fired power plant project."

However, with the way the progress is being made including lack of response form the government of Sindh, we fear that history might repeat itself and just like China left Thar in the past, Czech Republic may also leave Pakistan," the letter said.
 
Why is pak govt. not interested in Coal based power plants ? They are pretty quick to setup and economical to run than compared to Nuclear Power Plants.
 
Not sustainable in the long run... Energy security is more important than quick fixes.
 
Not sustainable in the long run... Energy security is more important than quick fixes.

Pakistan has one the largest Coal deposits in the world and unable to use the resources available in plenty is a waste of resource and an unpardanable mistake.

Some author was saying the stocks of Coal is valued at $ 5540 Billion , With billions of tonnes of Coal.
 
Pakistan has one the largest Coal deposits in the world and unable to use the resources available in plenty is a waste of resource and an unpardanable mistake.

Some author was saying the stocks of Coal is valued at $ 5540 Billion , With billions of tonnes of Coal.

True we have vast reserves, but the quality is poor with high quantity of ash and sulphur particles in the deposits. China has convinced Pakistan it is better in the longer run to consider coal gassification for Gas powered plants (hence the IPI) and not so much interest on Coal powered plants.

Here is a source on Coal Gassification in Pakistan:
ScienceDirect - Energy : Prospects for coal gasification in Pakistan
 
Why is pak govt. not interested in Coal based power plants ? They are pretty quick to setup and economical to run than compared to Nuclear Power Plants.

Well if they are so "pretty quick to setup and economical " then India should also stop building nuclear plants and build coal fired plants exclusively.

The Thar coal deposit in Sindh are dirty low quality coal and has more toxic byproducts. So I would not want coal fired plant in my backyard.
 
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A very interesting article about Coal gasification in Pakistan - very interesting indeed

Pakistan can use coal as substitute for gas: expert

This is all misdirection to stop us from building our nuclear power plants. We will build nuclear power plants with Chinese help. The dirty coal fired plants are health hazard. We can build dirty coal fired plants with US aid. But we will never accept any condition from US of not building nuclear plant for this help. We have lived through US sanctions and we can live gain.
 
Why is pak govt. not interested in Coal based power plants ? They are pretty quick to setup and economical to run than compared to Nuclear Power Plants.

The challenge today for power generation from coal is to limit CO2 and other emissions but the problem with clean coal technologies is that they are expensive at the moment. And too add innovation to boost Pakistan coals reserve energy efficiency while maintaining plant economics, guaranteeing of affordable energy to the consumer becomes distant reality . Every nation is trying to shift from coal to non-CO2 energy sources (hydro, nuclear, renewable) to meet their demands and it’s the only way to maintain natural balance. Hopefully we dont get over excited with all the hype of coal reserves and be sensible in utilizing natural resources without any adverse effect on our country.
 
Why is pak govt. not interested in Coal based power plants ? They are pretty quick to setup and economical to run than compared to Nuclear Power Plants.

this deal fell through because ZARDARI wasn't getting "his cut" MR.90% :hitwall::hitwall:
 

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