Thar coal mining project in Pakistan | Updates & Discussions.

[FreekiN]

So can someone confirm that Pakistan IS taking out the oil and planning to sell it?

If so, HOLY SHI-.

 

[Kompromat]

So can someone confirm that Pakistan IS taking out the oil and planning to sell it?

If so, HOLY SHI-.

What oil you are talking about?

 

[Hyde]

So can someone confirm that Pakistan IS taking out the oil and planning to sell it?

If so, HOLY SHI-.

Pakistan only import oil (in billions of dollars / year) they do not have proven oil reserves in large quantity............. (may be because we never spent enough money to find oil reserves from our land)

 

[FreekiN]

Pakistan only import oil (in billions of dollars / year) they do not have proven oil reserves in large quantity............. (may be because we never spent enough money to find oil reserves from our land)

Oh my, I meant to say coal. So what about the coal??

 

[Kansu]

The amount is huge but what about quality? if it is found in a young formation and with low calori values, it doesnt have any value...
2. thing is that, yes so much coal can be useful and helps you to provide energy. but how? you need to build coal-fired thermal power plant... and there are needs for this. in this option, you need a water source for the steam you will use for turbines. and this water source's capacity should be well enough to feed your thermal plant.

(there are other options for energy production with using coal. like coal gas, but these plants can be considered as too new for the industry and they are expensive.)

and after this water source, you need a stock area for the ash... ok, lets think that all the problems are solved and the only problem you have is the water source. and you decided to build that power plant to somewhere else. This time you will have logistics problem and carrying the coal from a place to another may not be economical... the expense may be a big amount.
but there is another option, you may carry it by railroads. but is there a close railroad system to the coal deposits?
there are many many engineering calculations we need to make to say that the coal can be used for energy production.
am i pessimistic? =) may be a little bit realistic.

Also a few words about copper... the copper prices are increasing rapidly. copper miners earn very well these days. There is a crisis all around the world but copper prices increase so fast... is this logical? China expects the crisis to end soon. And companies manufacturing 3. generation industrial productions still need copper for their post-crisis operations. so they still buy copper. honestly, copper mines are more profitable these days than gold mines. i would like to get in lithium or copper mining business if i had oppurtunity.
Regards
Kansu



ps: i also need to add, finding petrol is not so simple and cheap mates. a single meter drilling for petrol exploration costs 10.000$ depending on formation and equipment. there are many phases for this.deciding equipment and formation you will work on, opening wildcat wells and so on... Also you need to make nevertheless a few drills in a small area, on the same formation to be able to say that there is not petrol there.So may be pakistan needs to cooperate with international companies like brasilian petrobras or chinese companies working in middle east and africa. and last words, every oil source you find may not be profitable for the reasons i told above.

 

[graphican]

Pakistan only import oil (in billions of dollars / year) they do not have proven oil reserves in large quantity............. (may be because we never spent enough money to find oil reserves from our land)

There is fcuking politics in play. I have my friend who lives in Khewera and tells us how much mineral rich that area is around. He says there is a strip which is about 100KM long and it has different soil color than the rest of the area. That 100KM long strip has been explored nearly 12 times and every time a survey is made, they say there is oil underneath and every time they close the report and never start drilling. The next government would again spend 100s of millions over such geographical survey and same tested area. FCUKING MORON POLITICIANS are traitors who sell words but never do anything in the favour of this country. I wish there would appear some Immam Khumeni and roll 10,000 heads of lier, hypocrites and dishonest people and we would start seeing with what treasures God has blessed this nation.

 

[Hyde]

There is fcuking politics in play. I have my friend who lives in Khewera and tells us how much mineral rich that area is around. He says there is a strip which is about 100KM long and it has different soil color than the rest of the area. That 100KM long strip has been explored nearly 12 times and every time a survey is made, they say there is oil underneath and every time they close the report and never start drilling. The next government would again spend 100s of millions over such geographical survey and same tested area. FCUKING MORON POLITICIANS are traitors who sell words but never do anything in the favour of this country. I wish there would appear some Immam Khumeni and roll 10,000 heads of lier, hypocrites and dishonest people and we would start seeing with what treasures God has blessed this nation.

i have been to khewra...... you find reserves of Salt and Coal, there is a big Soda Ash Factory (ICI) in Khewra, there are some Cement factories around Khewra and Jhelum, can't say about Oil reserves

 

[Omar1984]

“Up to four years required to harness Thar coal”
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HYDERABAD: Prominent scientist Dr Samar Mubarakmand, who is a member of Planning Commission, has said that Pakistan has world’s second largest coal deposits, which will take three to four years to be put to use.

He was speaking at a seminar on “Coal bed methane (CBM) prospects of Sindh, a venture of opportunities for growth” organised by the Centre for Pure and Applied Geology of the University of Sindh.

He said that although he was not an expert on coal but being a member of the Planning Commission whose responsibilities included developing the resources and preparing roadmap for national development he had studied Thar coal and visited Tharparkar several times.

He said that every Pakistani wished to put Thar coal into use for producing energy and work had started on eight blocks.

He said the world faced the spectre of fast depletion of energy resources. There were 45 locations in the world of natural gas which could be converted into diesel and electricity and help contain pollution, he said.

Robert H. Gales, vice-president of Geoscience, Weatherford, USA, said in his keynote presentation that Pakistan was among 10 countries with large deposits of natural resources including coal.

He said that the fossil fuel would be main energy producer in foreseeable future and coal would remain a primary source of electricity generation, to the extent of 40 per cent.

He said that several unconventional resources would play an important role in increasing the demand of coal bed methane, tight gas sands and basin-centered gas, shale gas, in-situ combustion (CBM and heavy oil), oil shale and methane hydrates.

About the current CBM activity in the world he said that North Americas shift to shale gas development, USAs CBM development, in-field drilling, Canadas development in select areas marked the shift.

Fossil fuels and specifically coal, he said, would play an important role in meeting energy demand in the foreseeable future. Alternative and renewable energy sources would grow and other unconventional resources would play a larger role in meeting energy demand, he said.

Pro-vice chancellor of the university Dr Rafia Ahmed Shaikh, director of the centre Dr Sarfraz Hussain Solangi, Dr Imdadullah Siddiqui and geologists Dr Imdad Ali Brohi and Dr Asadullah Kazi also spoke at the seminar which was attended by geologists from the University of Punjab, NED University of Engineering, Quaid-i-Azam University, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Bahria University, representatives of Sindh Coal Authority, PCSIR, Mineral and Mining Department and other research organisations.

 

[Omar1984]

Committee to monitor Thar coalfields
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Monday, February 22, 2010

By Imtiaz Ali

Karachi

The Sindh government has constituted a committee, comprising officials of the departments concerned and representatives from investment companies, to monitor infrastructure projects in the Thar coalfields, official sources said on Sunday.

Progress on infrastructure projects will be reviewed and monitored fortnightly by the committee. Bottlenecks will be identified, and relevant departments will be called upon for timely completion of the projects. Moreover, the committee will also review investors’ projects to match timelines.

The coal and energy development secretary will be the chairperson of the committee, while the Thar Coal and Energy Board (TCED) finance manager will be the secretary. The irrigation and power secretary or a representative (not below BPS-19) will be a member of the committee, along with the district coordination officer Mithi, and representatives of SECMC, Cougar Energy and s Oracle Coalfields.

Sources said that the coal and energy development department has been pursuing infrastructure projects for the Thar coalfields, and felt a need to establish a committee to monitor these projects fortnightly in order to match timelines.

Officials said that the federal government will also be given representation in the committee. Moreover, the upcoming TCEB meeting will decide whether to include representatives of the Pakistan Railways, the National Highway Authority, the National Transmission and Dispatch Service (NTDC), etc.

 

[Omar1984]

Pak coal reserves next to US: Lot
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Karachi—PPP Senator Gul Mohammed Lot has said that out of total 1.47 trillion tons of coal reserves in the world. Talking to a delegation of Thari notables at Lot House,he said the highest share is wih the US with 274 billion tons while Pakistan is regarded as a country with second biggest reserves of 185 billions tons out of which it hardly produces 40 million tons a year. Senator said that neighbouring country had lower coal reserves than Pakistan, still we produce only 10 percent of coal in comparison to them.

He said the present governemnt was making every effort to increase the capability for higher coal production.

He said according to a report, if our coal production was brought equal to that of India, then Pakistan could earn 8 billion dollars annually by producing 5 lac barel diesel daily, 4 billion cubic feet of gas, 90 million tons of fertilizer annually, 3.7 million barrel manthole annually and 8.5 million barrel Mitha anually. He said with that revenue, not only Sindh but people of Pakistan could be made economically stable.

The Senator pointed out that a country like India fulfils 54 percent of industrial requirement and Veitnam produces 41 percent electricity from coal and if that natural resource in Pakistan was utilised with an immaculate planning and its economy grows at just 7 percent, then its GDP could go up from 167 billion dollars to 10 trillion dollars in the next 50 years.

Gul Mohammed Lot said that with existing coal reserves, the country could meet the requirements of six power stations of 1000 MW for the next 30-50 years.—APP

 

[Hyde]

Pak coal reserves next to US: Lot
​

Karachi—PPP Senator Gul Mohammed Lot has said that out of total 1.47 trillion tons of coal reserves in the world. Talking to a delegation of Thari notables at Lot House,he said the highest share is wih the US with 274 billion tons while Pakistan is regarded as a country with second biggest reserves of 185 billions tons out of which it hardly produces 40 million tons a year. Senator said that neighbouring country had lower coal reserves than Pakistan, still we produce only 10 percent of coal in comparison to them.

He said the present governemnt was making every effort to increase the capability for higher coal production.

He said according to a report, if our coal production was brought equal to that of India, then Pakistan could earn 8 billion dollars annually by producing 5 lac barel diesel daily, 4 billion cubic feet of gas, 90 million tons of fertilizer annually, 3.7 million barrel manthole annually and 8.5 million barrel Mitha anually. He said with that revenue, not only Sindh but people of Pakistan could be made economically stable.

The Senator pointed out that a country like India fulfils 54 percent of industrial requirement and Veitnam produces 41 percent electricity from coal and if that natural resource in Pakistan was utilised with an immaculate planning and its economy grows at just 7 percent, then its GDP could go up from 167 billion dollars to 10 trillion dollars in the next 50 years.

Gul Mohammed Lot said that with existing coal reserves, the country could meet the requirements of six power stations of 1000 MW for the next 30-50 years.—APP

we have been hearing such fantasies since 10 years now.......... we just want the Job needs to be done, the statements given like always

Now is the time to do something in real instead of giving statements every second week

 

[Omar1984]

Thar coal: concerns of the local community
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Thar coal has a very large water content (over 40 per cent of its weight) and is capable of providing an abundant water supply for the locals. — File Photo


On July 27, a three-member team of the World Bank experts on coal and mining visited Thar coal fields and met the representatives of civil society organisations and the local community. The team also visited village Thario Halepoto near Islamkot, Tharparkar.

The first concern countered by the WB team was the fear of local people whether Thar and Sindh will actually benefit from the exploitation of the world’s largest resource of energy.

Perhaps it was the first-ever official visit and initial brain-storming meeting of the World Bank officials of this nature to look at the Thar coal issues. The team comprised Ms Ekaterina N. Mikhaylova, Senior Project Officer Oil, Gas, Mining and Chemicals Department, Mr Robert Murphy, a Consultant of Oil,Gas, Mining Policy Division. They were accompanied by officials of the Sindh Mines and Mineral Department and the Thar Coal Energy Board.

Officials of the Sindh Energy Board and Minerals and Mining Department claimed that the development of Thar coal reserves has been included in the priority list of projects likely to be launched during the current financial year.

Members of the WB team said their mandate was to hear the views of the community and civil society representatives to prepare their policy framework expected to be completed in one year. Representatives of leading Thar-based NGOs including TRDP were present.

Ever-since 1964, when the first feasibility report on the use of Thar coal was completed, a number of similar studies have been carried out by experts, establishing the huge abundance of good quality, easily extractable coal and other mineral deposits in Tharparkar and their potential benefits.

An estimated over 175 billion tons of proven reserves of good quality coal is spread over 9,000 square kilometers of the Thar Desert. Compare it with the figures of India’s total coal deposits of 140 billion tons. Yet, for 40 years, these reserves have remained untapped.

People in Thar live in sub-human conditions and remain deprived of even access to safe drinking water, sewerage, healthcare, transport and education. Other issues include bonded labour and violation of the fundamental rights to employment and access to food availability.

Thar coal expert Syed Mohibullah Shah is of the view that technology exists to produce potable water from coal while the mineral is utilised for power generation. Thar coal has a very large water content (over 40 per cent of its weight) and +is capable of providing an abundant water supply for the locals.

People of the area acknowledge that the country is under severe electricity and energy crisis and Sindh is ready to cater the needs but ask as to who will guarantee the protection of the rights of the local people. The community is of the view that it should be the first beneficiary of any coal project.

Thar Coal exploitation can spearhead major economic development and employment generation activities. With over 200,000 jobs flowing from it over the years, the project could rank right at the top among all investments made in Pakistan—domestic or foreign.

The first-ever baseline survey of the area and people was shared with the World Bank team and the Sindh officials were advised to do more studies and surveys to understand the area and community.

Keeping in view the importance of the issue, Thardeep Rural Development programme (TRDP) has done a baseline survey on the socio-economic and environmental aspects of this project. The report is re-produced in Sindhi, English and Urdu. The aim of the re-production of the research study was to provide baseline information and scientific data to policy and decision makers and other stakeholders for an open debate.

This research will help to understand the demographic and geographic patterns of Thar, local community, environmental issues, socio-economic realities, and human landscape and project related issues like displacement, rehabilitation, burdens for the local people and the affected communities.

The input/feedback/ briefing by the local civil society activists on socio-economic and political situation of the area and community’s concerns and expectations of the project was very impressive in terms of their level of fundamental knowledge about the project. WB team was very impressed by the level of community’s understanding and information regarding Thar coal issues including technical and socio-economic and environmental impact. From the technical issues of gasification and tariff controversy and the ownership of the recourse, every issue was discussed at length.

Following issues were tabled by the community representatives:

Policy level issues: Ownership of the project should be solely with government of Sindh; elected representatives of the area be given visible charge/control in decision making; the community (especially field area) should be part of decision-making body. There should be a single body controlled by the provincial government to deal with investors and other issues.

Community issues: There is no clear policy for community welfare in Thar coal project; Sindh has a bitter experience of IFIs engagement in different projects and a lack of trust between the community and the donors/investors.

Displacement issues: Protection of cultural, heritage and religious sites; guarantees of employment for the local people; compensation issues as per current day rates of the lands and other belongings and; change in environmental landscape, impact on water and other livelihood commodities

The local community is happy to see its area developed but wants protection of political, social, economic, cultural and environmental rights for which a genuine effort on the part of Sindh government is required. The community feels more comfortable with the Thar Coal and Energy Board (TCEB) which it believes be treated as the only notified legal and authorised body to exercise all powers in deciding matters pertaining to mining and power generation from Thar coal. It should also address all the concerns and fears of the local people.

 

[Omar1984]

Thar Coal feasibility report to be ready by June: FM Qureshi
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BEIJING, Feb 26 (APP): Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that the feasibility report of the Thar Coal will be ready by June this year for submission to Sindh Government.Qureshi said that he has very good interaction with China’s top corporate leaders here in Beijing and also held talk with a top official whose company is carrying out the feasibility report on Thar coal.The company will finish the work on feasibility report by June and thereafter it will be submitted to the Sindh Government.The foreign minister said that he has discussed the prospects of utilizing the Thar coal for generating thermal power and was pleased to learn that the quality of Thar coal is far better than the imported coal being presently used for the purpose.

“So the chances for using Thar coal for power generation is very bright, according to initial report”, the foreign minister told APP in an exclusive interview during his stay in Beijing.

The geology of the area is quite friendly so it will not be difficult to extract the coal, he said and added that “the prospects are very encouraging”.

The foreign minister said that he also exchanged views with top officials of China Harbour with regard to prospects of growth and development of Gwadar port so that how we could utilize the port in more effective manner.

“I got some good ideas about how to develop infrastructure around Gwadar port to make it more useful”, Mr. Qureshi said.

Gwadar being close to the proximity of Iran which is rich in oil, therefore we can develop it as key area for establishing chemical industries, he observed.

During his interaction, Qureshi said that he has shared some good ideas with the leaders of corporate sector and they are very enthusiastic about working in Pakistan.

He said that during last one and half years there is lot of enthusiasm that has been generated on broadening the economic base between Pakistan and China.

The feedback, he got from the private sector, he said is that in the coming days the potential of broadening the economic and commercial ties with China is very bright and that is exactly in line with the economic diplomacy the foreign office was pursuing.

As we have plenty of sunshine round the year, therefore, there is also tremendous potential for bilateral engagements in development of solar energy.

He said that as the solar energy is becoming more and more sophisticated and would become cheap in cost with the passage of time, Pakistan offers lot of prospects in solar energy.

“Chinese cooperation can help Pakistan in overcoming the energy problem” Pakistan is facing at the moment, Qureshi said and added that it will also lay the base of foundations for industrial and agricultural growth in Pakistan.

The foreign minister said that he also had very fruitful meeting with those corporate sector people involved in river dredging projects in Pakistan that has already been initiated.

He further said that when completed the project would offer new opportunities for navigation and transportation as well as improving irrigation system in Pakistan.

 

[Kompromat]

Thanks Umar

 

[Luftwaffe]

again the problem is corruption Nigeria is suppose to be a rich country with proven huge oil reserves than again against dollar its currency is 152.00 and UK is the daddy of these oil wells and exploration add us as well..
so is the case with Pakistan if a common man of these area star to become self sufficient and rich it'll panic govt so they want these ares to be as backward as they want..
the best example of success is China and South Korea..