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Thar coal priority source of power: Gilani
Monday, 12 Jul, 2010
Gilani directed all the concerned federal and provincial agencies to extend full required support for Thar coal projects and ensure timely availability of infrastructure at the site.
KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has declared Thar coal as the priority source for power generation and of national importance.
Chairing a special meeting of the Sindh Cabinet, wherein he was updated on Thar coal projects at the Chief Minister House here on Monday, the Prime Minister said that Thar was the future of Pakistan.
Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ibad Khan, chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, federal ministers Rehman Malik, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Syed Naveed Qamar and members sindh cabinet were also present on the occasion.
He directed all the concerned federal and provincial agencies to extend full required support for Thar coal projects and ensure timely availability of infrastructure at the site.
He directed the provincial government to have consultation with the federal finance minister with regards to allocation of funds in the current PSDP and also regarding project financing for the Sindh Government's Joint Venture Project.
Earlier, Secretary Coal and Energy Department and Managing Director Thar Coal and Energy Board (TCEB), Ajaz Ali Khan gave a briefing on Thar coal project.
The vision of Thar Coal and Energy Board (TCEB) was shared with the Cabinet which is to generate at least 10,000 megawatts of power from Thar coal by 2020, which will save $ 79 billion of foreign exchange on fuel replacement cost and would give benefit of Rs8 trillion to the national economy on account of reduced power generation cost.
MD TCEB along with SECMC Khalid Mansoor gave a detailed presentation to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet with regard to ongoing progress on Sindh-Engro JV Project and informed the participants that this is a flagship project of Sindh Government, and its design feasibility study will be completed next month.
It has entered a critical phase where availability of infrastructure has to match the project time-lines. Any delay will make project financing availability difficult. The Prime Minister assured his full support and appreciated the efforts of the Government of Sindh.