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Thar coal mining project in Pakistan | Updates & Discussions.

This is an important project indeed, and I hope it meets its goals.
 
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The way forward is definitely solar and wind, along with coal, We really need to get less dependent on foreign oil.

---------- Post added at 03:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:22 PM ----------

What is the expected lifetime of the project??
 
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Government plans to convert coal into diesel

* PCSIR is taking the lead in the project

* 68.7% of China’s electricity comes from coal

By Ijaz Kakakhel

ISLAMABAD: The government has planned a project for the purchase of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) reactor for laboratory scale conversion of coal gas into liquid diesel, sources told Daily Times here on Saturday.

In this regard a PC-1 is under process. Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) is in close coordination with several suppliers abroad for the purchase of the FTS reactors for conversion of coal gas into diesel on laboratory scale. These include Chinese and US suppliers. However purchase would be carried out on completion of codal formalities, the sources maintained. The sources claimed that the production of diesel from coal involves a number of steps including preparation of a catalyst, preparation of Carbon Monoxide Gas on Pilot Plant Scale, designing and fabrication of reactor, a 1 litre gas capacity Fischer Tropsch Reactor has been designed and fabricated from indigenous resources.

The production of diesel from coal is carried out through Syngas (carbon monoxide + hydrogen). The coal has been converted into Syngas but as the gas purifying unit was not available at the PCSIR Labs Complex, Karachi, which is prerequisite for the conversion of Syngas gas into diesel. A small quantity of diesel was produced using purified Syngas at lab scale, which was tested and found comparable with commercially available diesel.

The sources said coal is the cheapest and the most common fuel used directly or indirectly to produce electricity and heat in the world today. Global coal consumption was about 6.7 billion tonnes in 2006 and is expected to increase 48 percent to 9.98 billion tonnes by 2030, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). China produced 2.38 billion tonnes in 2006. India produced about 447.3 million tonnes and Pakistan mined only about 8 million tonnes in 2006. 68.7 percent of China’s electricity comes from coal.

Thar desert region in Pakistan is endowed with one of the largest coal reserves in the world. Discovered in early 1990s, the Thar Coal has not yet been developed to produce usable energy. With the devastating increases in imported oil bill and the growing shortages of gas and electricity in the country, the coal development is finally beginning to get the attention it deserves. Coal contributes about 20 percent of the worldwide greenhouse gas emissions but it is the cheapest fuel available, according to Pew Centre on Global Climate Change. It can provide usable energy at a cost of between $1 and $2 per MMBtu compared to $6 to $12 per MMBtu for oil and natural gas, and coal prices are relatively stable. Coal is inherently higher polluting and more carbon-intensive than other energy alternatives.



Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
 
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I have said before, 'cracking' coal and turning it into liquid fuel is the way to go.

Last time I checked, it was said that oil has to be above 35$ a barrel for it to be commercially viable, that barrier is history.

South Africa is a world leader and produces 30% of its requirements that way. It has supplied this technology to China, which I believe the chinses have improved upon.

Enviromentally this causes problems, it causes significant pollution.
 
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KESC to generate 1100MW electricity till March 2012


Islamabad—Karachi Electric Supply Company CEO Tabish Gohar on Sunday said that KESC will increase its electricity generation capacity around 1100 MW till March 2012 through thar coal.

Talking to a private news channel, he said that Bin Qasim power plant is being converted on coal from which 400 MW cheap electricity will be generated for consumers in next two years.

He elaborated that Abrash Capital has invested 30 million in KESC in 3 years and an other amount of six million rupees is expected by next years.

It enhanced at least 8,50 Mw power generation and by the next march this figure will be increased to 1000 mw, he added.

To a question, he said that coal generated electricity is cheaper than that of furnace oil adding that coal generated electricty is Rs 07 per unit while regular electricity price is Rs 16 per unit.

He hoped that KESC will be generating 400 mw electricity from coal in next two years.

He said that we have an agreement with british company for the thar coal project, in this connection 300 MW cheaper electricity will be generated during next two years. He said that KESC to get 1100 MW additional power in next three-four years to end Load-shedding.


KESC to generate 1100MW electricity till March 2012
 
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Coal reserves to provide electricity for more than 30 years: Dr Samar

ISLAMABAD: Member of the Science and Technology Planning Commission, Dr Samar Mubarakmand has said Pakistan has enough coal reserves that can provide electricity for more than 30 years.

Talking to a private news channel, he said that Thar coal power generation project has been completed successfully and it would bring prosperity and development.

Dr Mubarak said, coal was burnt at about 250 feet underground on December 11, and on December 19, scientists found the gas in Islam Kot area of Thar.

He said this project can generate 10,000 megawatts electricity for 30 years and can produce 100 million barrel diesel per year.

The Thar coal project will become operational in December 2013, he said.

He said the project is to cost Rs 8.898 billion with a foreign exchange component of Rs 5.847 billion that was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council last year.

Dr Mubarakmand said that the success of the Thar coal project will lead to investment from the leading international companies.

With the completion of coal-fired power generation project, the nation would get low-cost and sufficient power supply thus resolving the current energy crisis, he added.

Dr. Samar said it is for the first time in Pakistan that the coal gasification is being launched on commercial basis and abundant inexpensive electricity will be available.

He said the coal gasification was already producing 50000 MW around the world, as the cost of electricity per unit is relatively low.



Coal reserves to provide electricity for more than 30 years: Dr Samar
 
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How long will it take - knowing the pace of progress in infrastructure there - for Pakistan to even supply 20% of its needs from coal, gasified or not ?

What are the most optimistic estimates, and how many 1000's of MW in what year ?
 
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a grid line of only a few 100 km is needed..if govt get committed, it would takee 12-20 months at best howevr it would take 2-3 billion dollars of investment just to get the water and electricity to and from site
 
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Thar coal gas extraction proves successful


ISLAMABAD: Member of the Science and Technology Planning Commission, Dr Samar Mubarakmand has said that Pakistan has enough coal reserves to provide electricity for more than 30 years.

“The Thar coal power generation project has been completed successfully and it would bring prosperity and development,” he said talking to a local news channel. Dr Mubarakmand said that the coal was burnt at about 250 feet underground on December 11, and on December 19, and the scientists found the gas in Islam Kot area of Thar.

He said this project can generate 10,000 megawatts of electricity for 30 years and can produce 100 million barrel diesel per year. “The Thar coal project will become operational in December 2013,” he said.

He said the project would cost Rs8.898 billion with a foreign exchange component of Rs5.847 billion that was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council last year. “The success of the Thar coal project will lead to investment from the leading international companies,” Dr Mubarakmand said.


Thar coal gas extraction proves successful
 
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Thar coal to generate 10,000 MW by 2020: Sindh governor


KARACHI: The Sindh government has devised a plan to generate 10,000 megawatts of electricity from Thar coal by the year 2020.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan said federal government has been approached for laying a transmission line to take electricity from Thar field to national grid.

Presiding over a meeting on Thar coal he said installation of transmission network was the integral part of the plan, which should be ready by the time, power projects were ready to generate electricity from Thar coal.

He pointed out Thar coal would be utilised to make Pakistan self sufficient in power generation to strengthen economy and make this area as the hub of petrochemical industry.

He was of the opinion approval of transmission network by the federal government was vital for the successful progress of Thar coal project. All the stakeholders and financial institutions can play more effective role when transmission network takes a final shape, he added.

Provincial Secretary Coal and Energy Development Younus Dagha briefed the meeting on the progress of Thar coal project. He said at least 2,400 MW of power would be generated under the project in next three years. About 25,000 MW will be generated from Thar coal in next 17 years, he added.

He said laying of transmission line is planned to be completed in two phases by June 2014 at a cost of Rs 21 billion.

He said Thar coal field is the 7th largest coal reserves in the world with nearly 175 billion tonnes of black gold equivalent to 50 billion of crude oil (TOEs).

This is larger than the oil reserves of Saudi Arabia and Iran and equal to 2000 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas reserves.

He said Sindh has a total of 186 billion tonnes of coal, Punjab 235 billion tonnes, Balochistan 217 billion tonnes, Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa 90 billion tonnes and Azad Jammu Kashmir 9 billion tonnes of coal reserves.

Dagha said Thar coalfield has been declared as special economic zone where the rate of return on investment is 20 percent in dollar terms. In addition, the import of machinery, equipment and vehicles for the coal site is duty free while withholding tax, excise duty and other levies are exempted for initial 30 years, he added.

He informed three road network schemes costing Rs 9.6 billion would be completed in the area by the end of 2012. These included a 200-kilometer road connecting Thar coalfield to Karachi via Thatta and Badin.

Similarly, effluent disposal system will be completed by December 2012 at a cost of Rs 3.7 billion to flush out water from Thar coalfield. Three reverse osmosis plants for producing clean drinking water and rescue station have already been completed at the site, he said. app

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

---------- Post added at 03:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:14 AM ----------

Thar coal gasified project has completed successfully on Wednesday, member of the Science and Technology Planning Commission, Dr Samar Mubarakmand, said.

Talking to Aaj news, he said that the project would bring prosperity in the country. “Pakistan has enough coal reserves that can provide electricity to the country for more than 500 years,” he said.

He said that development work is in progress and the first 50 megawatts gasified project has almost been completed.

He said that the project is to cost Rs8.898 billion with a foreign exchange component of Rs 5.847 billion that was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council last year.

Dr Mubarakmand said that the success of the Thar coal project will lead to investment from the leading international companies.

He said that several foreign companies wanted to participate in the project and had shown interest.

He said that fifty per cent coal-fired power generation works has already been done, while the rest would be completed within a months.

With the completion of this project, the nation would get cheap and sufficient power supply thus resolving the current pestering energy crisis, he added.

Dr. Samar said it is for the first time in Pakistan that the coal gasification is being launched on commercial basis and abundant and cheap electricity will be available.

He said the coal gasification was already producing 50000MW around the world, as the cost of electricity per unit is relatively low.

He said the four continents in the world are working on this project, as this method has enhanced energy efficiency reaching to 76 per cent.

He said the new growth strategy of the country is being emphasised on power generation through coal.
He said our installed capacity of thermal generation is 12000MW against hydel generation of 9000MW.
Thar coal project
 
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Thar coal project to get funds

ISLAMABAD - Leading nuclear physicist Dr Samar Mubarakmand on Thursday briefed Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on producing coal gas to generate 100 megawatts of electricity by 2013 using underground coal gasification (UCG) at Thar. Mubarakmand told the prime minister that the coal gasification project achieved a significant breakthrough in December 2011 by successfully producing coal gas from ignited coal 600 feet below ground.
“This blue pollution-free flame of the gas burns in a flare and illuminates the dark night skies of Thar,” Mubarakmand said.
The total cost of the UCG project stands at Rs 9.9 billion. Dr Mubarikmand requested the prime minister to arrange immediate funds of Rs 2.4 billion for this year, and the remaining amount during the next financial year to start power generation before the end of 2013. The prime minister directed the ministers of Finance, Petroleum and Natural Resources to urgently have a meeting and arrange the financial resources required for the project without delay.
The nuclear scientist also discussed the ongoing gas shortage in the country. He said the fertiliser factories and the industrial sector consumed 43 percent of the total gas in the country.
He said that he would soon make a presentation on coal gas to meet the industrial needs before the ministries of Finance and Petroleum. The Prime Minister may also like to attend the meeting, Dr Samar said. He said the project was expected to cost $250 million approximately and the gas from the project, when approved, will begin to flow into the national system as early as 2014.
However, he added that if the process of approval and financing was handled on a fast-track basis, and the project commences within the next three months, the outflow of gas could start even at the end of 2012 or early 2013.

Thar coal project to get funds | Pakistan Today | Latest news, Breaking news, Pakistan News, World news, business, sport and multimedia

---------- Post added at 03:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:29 AM ----------

PM orders release of funds for Thar power project

ISLAMABAD: Distinguished scientist Dr Samar Mubarak Mand called on Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani here at the Prime Minister House on Thursday and briefed him on the current project of coal gas from Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) of Thar Coal for generation of 100 MW of electricity by the end of 2013 at a total cost Rs. 9.9 billion.

Dr Samar Mubarak Mand informed the Prime Minister that in December 2011, a very significant breakthrough occurred in (UCG) project whereby coal gas was successfully produced by ignition of coal 600 feet below ground.

This blue pollution-free flame of the gas burns in a flare and illuminates the dark night skies of Thar, he added.

To complete power generation phase of the project, Dr Samar Mubarak Mand requested the Prime Minister to arrange immediate funding of Rs. 2.4 billion this year and the remaining 7.8 billion during the next financial year so that the country can benefit from the generation of 100 MW of electricity before the end of 2013.

The Prime Minister directed the Ministers of Finance, Petroleum and Natural Resources to have a meeting at the earliest and arrange financial resources required for the project without further delay.

Dr Samar Mubarak Mand also discussed the current situation of deficiency of gas in the country in detail.

He said that fertilizer plants and the industrial sector consumed 43% of the total gas in the country.

Dr Samar Mubarak Mand said that he would prepare a presentation on coal gas to meet the demand of two sectors of Pakistan's economy by the end of this week or early next week, which will be presented to the Ministries of Finance and Petroleum. The Prime Minister may also attend the meeting, he added.

He said that the project was expected to cost $ 250 million approximately and the gas from the project, when approved, will begin to flow into the national system as early as 2014.

He, however, added that if the process of approval and financing was handled on fast track basis and the project commences within next three months, the outflow of gas can start even at the end of 2012 or early 2013.


PM orders release of funds for Thar power project
 
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Good news. Although 100 MW is very small, it's a start. If Pakistan can become energy self-sufficient, a great step would have been achieved. My guess is that it will take 5-8 years for this to happen, assuming the investments are made. Building power stations will be expensive, perhaps investment from China will help.
 
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