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Thar coal mining project in Pakistan | Updates & Discussions.

I think the Federal Government in Pakistan is weaker then Provincial Government and this is why we have problems implementing any kind of projects

If the Federal Government , did things like done in China for Prosperity we would have 10 dams built in Pakistan and Million and Million tons of water saved for crops enough to last 20 years
 
Chinese may invest in Thar coal

Thursday, October 13, 2011

BEIJING: Ambassador of Pakistan to China Masood Khan has said that he would contact the Chinese conglomerate King Hu Group to invest in coal mining and railway infrastructure in Pakistan.

Khan said the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing had arranged a visit of the company officials to Pakistan for initial study of investment in Thar Coal and Power Project.

He said that news were afloat that the company has backed out from a billion dollar deal.

It is not possible for a company to back out if it hasn’t gone forward, Khan said. “King Hu group was in Pakistan for only an initial study.”


More than five Chinese companies are working on the Thar coal project and they have no fear of security, the Pak envoy said. One of biggest coal mining company in china, China Coal is working on Thar coal project with Engro Pakistan and they are making huge investments in the area, Khan said.

China is also working in Pakistan on mega projects including the upgrading of dams, manufacturing plants and other infrastructure projects, Khan said.



Chinese may invest in Thar coal
 
More Thar coal fields to be offered for exploration


Karachi—The Sindh Government has planned to offer more blocks this month for exploration of coal in Thar coal field to meet the demand of investors from various countries.

According to a statement of Coal and Energy Development Department issued here on Sunday, there are several investors from China, Australia, Germany, Turkey, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, who are frequently visiting Thar coal field either working for the ongoing projects, developing their studies and project papers or for the companies which are planning to participate in the future offerings of Thar blocks.

“There have always been satisfactory arrangements for their facilitation, logistics and security,” it added.

Thar coal field, with its estimated reserves of 175 billion tons spread over 9000 sq kms, is regularly attracting investors from inside and outside the country.

It has a tremendous potential and size, unequalled by any coal field in the region, it added.

The federal and the provincial governments are providing all possible resources and are developing various schemes to meet the challenge of completing the infrastructure needs of the area. The attractive incentives package offered by the Federal and Provincial governments for Thar coal projects, is receiving enthusiastic attention of the investors, it further maintained.


More Thar coal fields to be offered for exploration
 
Thar coal to ensure energy security for 300 years: PM


KARACHI - Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday said that the disruption in democratic government and political uncertainty in the past led to energy crisis being faced by the country today. He, however, vowed the present PPP government was committed to fully exploit Thar coal reserves to overcome the energy crisis.

He was addressing the International Coal Conference 2011, organised by the Sindh government in Karachi, which was attended by a large number of international investors and industrialists.

The Prime Minister said energy was a key for economic progress and prosperity of the country. He said Pakistan had been gifted by Allah Almighty with abundant natural resources, which needed to be fully exploited, but unfortunately no plan was implemented due to inconsistencies in the policies and repeated disruptions in the democratic process in the past.

He said the present government was fully committed to develop and exploit the reserves of Thar coalfield, which was inaugurated by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto in 1993 for generating electricity. Now the PPP government was transforming the vision of Shaheed Benazir into reality by exploring the coal reserves for energy purpose, he added.

The Prime Minister said these reserves were ensure the energy security of Pakistan and with the utilisation of the coal reserves could produce 100,000 MW electricity for next 300 years, adding the surplus electricity could be exported.

Gilani said the PPP-led government had launched Diamer-Bhasha Dam project, which would generate over 4,500 MW after completion.

He further said the present government was striving to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the people as at least 3,400MW power had been added to the system during the three years of his government, adding the other projects of power generation was in pipeline.

The Prime Minister said various institutions were effectively working under Thar Coal Energy Board led by Sindh Chief Minister. He said the government would encourage foreign investment in this field.

The Prime Minister maintained in view of the energy shortage being faced by the country it was an important event whereby a way forward has been devised to utilise the coal reserves.

He further said that our prime objective is to attract local and foreign investment in mining, power generation and infrastructure development in Thar coalfield. “We offer enabling environment, guaranteed rate of return, unprecedented incentives and commit robust infrastructure to investors working in this vital sector that will usher a new era of economic sustainability and development.

APP adds: Prime Minister Gilani directed for expediting the pace of implementation of the Supreme Court’s October 6 judgment in Karachi unrest case.

At a meeting held to review the law and order situation in Karachi and progress on the implementation of the SC judgment, he ordered to implement the court verdict in letter and spirit. The meeting was attended by Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad, Chief Minister Qaim Ali, Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, chief secretary, IGP, advocate general and others.


http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-...al-to-ensure-energy-security-for-300-years-PM
 
5,300MW plants will be converted to coal: Qamar


KARACHI - The speakers at an international coal conference 2011 on Saturday emphasised on the federal government to develop the Thar coal reserves for ensuring energy security in Pakistan. They also stressed to switch the power generation from existing expensive furnace oil and gas to coal based plants.

Renowned international and national coal sector specialists, foreign investors, existing project developers, representatives of development financial institutions, diplomatic corps and other stakeholders attended the international event, which was organised by Coal and Energy Department of Sindh and Sindh Board of Investment here at a local hotel. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani delivered the concluding speech at the one-day conference.

The international conference was told that Thar region of Sindh province is endowed with mammoth coal (lignite) reserves estimated to be 175 billion tonnes which can produce 100,000MW of electricity for next 300 years and can be a key to energy security and economic prosperity.

Federal Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar, while addressing the conference, said the government is focusing its attention on shifting power generating system from existing expensive furnace oil and gas to coal.

“The government has started working on the policy of retrofitting 5300MW of furnace oil based power plants to coal-based initially on imported coal and then on indigenous coal when available,” he informed the audience.

He dispelled the image that the government was not ready to import electricity from Iran, saying that federal government has already made an agreement with neighbouring country to import electricity for Gawadar through Zahidan route.

He admitted that the needs of electricity through rental powers plants/IPPs have not been fulfilled, so we have to think on other options and explore other resources for power generation. The coal reserves of Thar could be sustainable solution of energy crisis, he said, reminded that government deliberately shelved the Thar coal projects, which was inaugurated by the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto during her second government.

If the Thar coal field project was not hindered by the successors of the PPP government in past, the country would not have been facing the energy crisis today, the federal minister said.
Naveed Qamar said the present government has approved an attractive incentive package to facilitate investment for the development of Thar coal reserves. The development of infrastructure has also been given immense importance. Infrastructure projects are being executed on a fast-track basis, he added.

Sindh Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, in his welcome address, highlighted the objectives of this first-ever international coal conference and thanked President and Prime Minister of Pakistan for extending their utmost support for the early materialization of Thar coal projects.
He said that early announcement of upfront of tariff for power generation to be produced from Thar coal reserves will attract the investors. He also advocated for conversion of power generation from existing furnace and gas to coal based generation.

The representatives from international investment firms and coal mining companies made presentations in the conference and termed the Thar coal ‘good for production of electricity’.

They, however, said that there are security problems, but international investors must come and get benefit from the incentives being offered by the present government to explore the coal reserves.

Removing the misconceptions about Thar coal, Dr Marcos Leontidis, mining expert from Greece, said that the stripping ratio in Thar is around 6.6: 1, which is much better than many lignite mines in the world including Greece.

Dr Larry Thomas, coal expert from United Kingdom, said that sulphur content in Thar is acceptable being at 0.7%, which is lower than found in many other lignite resources already being used in the world and its moisture levels are same or even less than found in most of the lignite mines in the world. He further said the coal from Thar although may not be exportable to other countries but can be transported to be used in other parts of the province after drying.
Nigel Pickett from SRK-UK in his presentation said renewable energy cannot provide Pakistan reliable energy supplies due to its seasonal and cyclic nature. It has to be part of our energy mix to meet the peak demands and reduce fossil fuel consumption. Volatility of oil prices in 2007 brought heavy stress on the economy and indigenous coal provides the only option to achieve energy security for the country.

Zubair Motiwala, Chairman Sindh Board of Investment, briefed the forum about investment potential of Thar coal and said many international companies from China, South Korea, Germany, Czech Republic, Australia, UK and Turkey have shown their interest in investment in coal mining and power generation in Thar coal and also in the infrastructure projects. He also informed that the Government of Sindh is conducting 3rd International Competitive Bidding for blocks VIII, IX and X of Thar Coalfield and also blocks in Sonda and Badin for attracting international companies to develop coal mining and power generation projects in Sindh.

Mohammad Younus Dagha, Provincial Secretary Coal and Energy Development Department/MD Thar Coal and Energy Board stressed the need to create an ideal energy mix by replacing imported furnace oil to indigenous coal for power generation.


5,300MW plants will be converted to coal: Qamar | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online
 
International Coal Conference: Gilani believes Thar can solve energy crisis


KARACHI: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Saturday vowed to solve Pakistan’s energy crisis through full exploitation of the Thar coal reserves.

The PM was addressing the International Coal Conference 2011, which was organized by the Sindh Government and attended by international investors and industrialists.

Gilani traced the history of the Thar coalfield back to its inauguration by Benazir Bhutto in 1993. The plan to extract coal was shelved by the subsequent government, but Gilani said the current PPP-led government was finally transforming Bhutto’s vision into reality.

With full utilisation of the coal reserves, 100,000 MW could be produced over the next 300 years, the PM claimed. He even looked forward to a future in which surplus electricity could be exported.

The PM said various institutions have been joined under the umbrella of the Thar Coal Board Energy Board, led by the Sindh chief minister, and are working together to maximise coal resources in Thar which have been estimated at 175 billion tons. He added that the government would encourage foreign investment in the project.

Gilani also mentioned the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, which will generate over 4500 MW electricity after completion. This was another example of using indigenous sources of power generation – a necessary process in order to reduce dependence on foreign oil, and thus eliminating the menace of circular debt, according to the PM.

Gilani called for a balanced energy mix, gradually increasing coal-based power generation and bringing it at a par with the world average of 40% coal-based power generation.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2011.


International Coal Conference: Gilani believes Thar can solve energy crisis – The Express Tribune
 
China to invest in coal sector of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Sino Resources Group Limited China showed interest in coal processing of removing moisture to turn it into high version coal, which is highly efficient in upgrading the commercial value of lignite.

The company also gave detailed presentation of the most advanced coiled tubing, drilling and nitrogen stimulation technologies. A six member delegation of Sino Group, Shaanxi Dingbian Lide Oil well technology Service Limited and China Cultural Heritage Foundation, led by Jane Geng, Chairman called on Zia Uddin, Executive Director General of Board of Investment (BOI).

The China Cultural Heritage Foundation members were interested to open up super stores in Islamabad for the availability of Chinese products in Pakistan.

This store will promote the Chinese products and culture in Pakistan to create a cultural bonding between the two countries.

In this regard, the delegation will meet the competent authority of Capital Development Authority for the allocation of the site and other acquisitions for the super stores.

Zia Uddin appreciated the efforts being made by the company for their investment plans and briefed that in order to attract investment in Thar, a comprehensive incentive package has been developed with consultation from all stakeholders, which included 20 percent IRR to firms, 30 years exemption on corporate tax, all custom duties on import of coal mining projects allowed at zero percent to reduce the initial capital investment, exemption on withholding tax to shareholder etc to reduce the initial capital investment. ppi


Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
 
All they made was a "detailed presentation". That is all.
 
Reko Diq is a small town in Chagai District, Balochistan with world's largest Gold and Copper reserves.]

Tethyan Copper of Australia has taken the contract to develop this mine. Barrick Gold Corporation of Canada and Antofagasta of Chile have a joint-ownership of the copper-gold deposit at Reko Diq.

The Reko Diq deposit is being explored by Tethyan Copper Company Pty Ltd (75%) and the (BDA) Balochistan Development Authority (25%). Tethyan Copper Company is held jointly (50:50) by Barrick Gold Corporation and Antofagasta Minerals.

Currently the deposit is at scoping / pre feasibility stage. It is a world class copper / gold porphyry style deposit, typical of the tethyan belt.

It has been sold to the Zionist controlled regimes by the Pakistani Government under the dictator at a price of $21 billion. Rough estimates suggest that the gold and copper at the surface alone accounts for $65 billion worth of deposits.

Tell me how many of us know about it ...remember the total debt on Pakistani Nation is $38b.

Now the question is why Pakistani media and Govt is silent about it? why it is kept secret from Pakistani Nation?


Because We've learnt to be silent & sit back & watch the whole drama & when it finishes & we lose everything Then WE say OHH my GOD!!!!

THAT's PAKISTAN's people NATURE MAN

In simple urdu,
HUM PAKISTANI HYN HEE 1 BEGERAT QOUM
Sub kuch hone k baad b kehte hyn G.a nawan sahif G.a ppp G.a altaf G.a pml-q G.a imran khan kehte hyn.
Koi G.a PAKISTAN NHi kehta
We are disgraced people & self destroyers
abb bhi mazeed barbad hone k liye imran khan ko bula rahe ho..
 
Sindh inks energy deals with Chinese companies

293123-Coal-1321478399-133-640x480.jpg

Thar project covers coal mining and 4,000 megawatts of power generation with an estimated investment of around $8 billion. PHOTO: FILE


KARACHI: Sindh Coal and Energy Department has been able to attract attention of two large Chinese energy companies – China Three Gorges Corporation and Orient Group, and has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with them in Beijing, says a Sindh government official.

These MoUs were signed during visit of a Sindh investment delegation to China, led by Sindh Assembly speaker.

Wang Shaofeng, Vice Chairman of China Three Gorges Corp and Mohammad Younus Dagha, Secretary Coal and Energy Board signed the MoU on Tuesday. Under the agreement, the Chinese company will participate in international bidding for Thar coalfield’s blocks VIII, IX and X as well as for Sonda coalfield.

The Thar project covers coal mining and 4,000 megawatts of power generation with an estimated investment of around $8 billion.

Apart from participating in future projects in Thar, the company has already purchased a ready project in Sonda coalfield at Thatta, which was earlier developed by CMC of China for coal mining and power generation.

Another MoU was signed on Wednesday by Hongwei Zhang, Chairman of Orient Group and United Energy Group (UEG) and Mohammad Younus Dagha, Secretary Coal and Energy Board.

The MoU covers both coal power and wind energy projects in Sindh. The group has shown interest in developing coal-based power plants in Thar and Badin coalfields.

It has also acquired letter of intent for a 150-megawatt wind power project in the first two years, which the company intends to scale up to 500 megawatts in four years.

UEG has already invested in oilfields of Badin by acquiring British Petroleum’s concessions in the district. The new endeavours of UEG will bring another investment of around $1.2-$2.5 billion.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2011


Sindh inks energy deals with Chinese companies – The Express Tribune
 
Because We've learnt to be silent & sit back & watch the whole drama & when it finishes & we lose everything Then WE say OHH my GOD!!!!

THAT's PAKISTAN's people NATURE MAN

In simple urdu,
HUM PAKISTANI HYN HEE 1 BEGERAT QOUM
Sub kuch hone k baad b kehte hyn G.a nawan sahif G.a ppp G.a altaf G.a pml-q G.a imran khan kehte hyn.
Koi G.a PAKISTAN NHi kehta
We are disgraced people & self destroyers
abb bhi mazeed barbad hone k liye imran khan ko bula rahe ho..


Hon Sir,

Regret to say that majority of my countrymen are passionate and only think with the seat of their pants but not with their brains. This disease is endemic in all sections of the society and such thinking has done immense harm to the country over the years. One must understand that what we think anything is worth is totally different from what the market thinks. Real value is what the market will carry.

If Pakistan has sufficient resources and did not need foreign investment, your argument would have some justification. Since this is not the case, as long as tender process is transparent, regardless of what you think any project is worth, real value is what the market is prepared to pay.

Estimates in Hon Flying Eagle’s post are based upon ‘Potential’ which is currently under the ground. One can only guess as to how much of it will be recovered. The language you have used based upon a guess worth of Reko Diq project indicates complete lack of rational thinking.

Pakistan steel mill is a glaring example of the harm that this way of thinking can do to the national economy.

Quote

In response to wide spread public outcry and call for action the Chief Justice of Pakistan took a suo moto action against the privatisation citing irregularities in the process. The verdict was delivered on 8 August 2006.

The Supreme Court on 8 August 2006 held that the entire disinvestment process of the Pakistan Steel Mills reflected haste, ignoring profitability aspect and assets of the mills by the financial adviser before its evaluation. The transaction was the outcome of a process reflecting procedural irregularities, said the 80-page judgement in the PSM case.

On 23 June, a nine-member bench of the Supreme Court had annulled the sale of the country’s largest industrial unit to a three-party consortium and had directed the government to refer the matter to the Council of Common Interests within six weeks. It had declared the $362 million transaction with the Russian-Saudi-Pakistan investors as null and void.

Authored by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, the judgement said the entire exercise reflected haste by the Privatisation Commission (PC) and the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP). The PC had processed the 30 March final report of the financial adviser the same day and a meeting of the PC board and a summary had also been prepared the same day when a six week time was mandatory to examine and fix a fair reference price for approval by the CCOP.

“This unexplained haste casts reasonable doubt on the transparency of the whole exercise and reflects CCOP’s disregard towards mandatory rules and materials, essential for arriving at a fair reference price,” it maintained.

The board had proposed to value the share of the mill at Rs17.43 but it was reduced to Rs16.18 without assigning any reason, the verdict said. The verdict said that keeping in view the annual net profit of the mill, its shares’ value should have been ascertained by offering 10 per cent equity of the mills on the stock exchange.

“A constitutional court would be failing in its duty if it does not interfere to rectify the wrong, more so when valuable assets of the nation are at stake,” the judgment said.

Unquote.

The same Supreme Court is now calling Steel as biggest robbery in history. Who is going ask the Hon Judges that this happenned because of their intervention in the affairs of the executive. However, there is good reason for SC

Quote.

According to the official figures obtained by The News, the PSM production attainment was 82% of capacity utilization in the year 2007-08.

It experienced a decline to 64% in 2008-09, and further to 40% in 2009-10. In the following year, 2010-11, the production remained 35% mostly due to shortage of raw material like iron ore and coal etc that was further declined to 25% in July, 26% in August and 15% in September, 2011.

As for the sale of the PSM products is concerned, it was recorded PKR 42.938 billion in 2007-08 and has been on decline afterward with PKR 34.340 billion in 2008-09 (the start of PPP government), PKR 23.832 billion in 2009-10 and PKR 27.379 billion in 2010-11.

In terms of profit, the PSM had it last time in 2007-08 when it fetched PKR 2.38 billion whereas the following years saw the mill continuously running into loss with no let up as it recorded a loss of PKR 26.53 billion in 2008-09, PKR 11.52 billion in 2009-10 and PKR 11.49 billion in 2010-11. The loss incurred in the first three months of the running financial year has been recorded to the tune of PKR 4.30 billion.

The PSM’s immediate/deferred payments liability of PKR 60 billion (as of September 2011) are in addition to the losses suffered in the present regime. Besides, the PSM faces damages claims of PKR 10 billion filed in different courts by the contractors, dealers and suppliers.
Unquote

Main reason for SC action was that instead of Rs 17.43 per share Al Tuwairqi group only agreed to pay Rs 16.48 or about 5% less. In other words the value should have been $380 million. In Rupee terms (at that time it Rs 65 for each dollar) value should have been Rs 24-7 billion instead of Rs 23.53 billion. A difference of Rs 1.2-billion. Even at today’s conversion rate it only comes about Rs 1.5 billion.

In other words because we felt cheated by Rs 1.5-billion, country has lost FE worth $382-million and also suffered a drain of Rs 49.54 billion with lot more to come. Conditions of sale included that Al Tuwairqi would also modernize the steel mill which would have been completed by now. Understand that USSR has offered to revamp the mill which would take at least another 5 years.
In the meantime Pakistan had to import larger amount of steel due to decline in steel production by about 0.7-million tons in production. Real losses due to that decision are enormous.

Therefore before you start calling Pakistani nation (Baighairat) please look into your own twisted logic. Pakistan needs people like you like we need a hole in the head.

Finally, Imran Khan is no doubt an honest man but he has no magic wand and it is by no means taken for granted that TI would be able to get majority in National Asssembly.
 
public private patnershp/privitization over looked by govt is the only way ...as human have corruption and greed gene in them...
 
Thar coal: First 50MW project almost complete

ISLAMABAD: The first 50 megawatts (MW) in the Thar coal gasification project has almost been completed and the development process is in progress, said Member of the Science and Technology Planning Commission, Dr Samar Mubarakmand, on Thursday.

Talking to a news channel, he said the project is to cost Rs8.9 billion with a foreign exchange component of Rs5.8 billion.

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

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2011



Thar coal: First 50MW project almost complete – The Express Tribune
 
Thar coal project to become operational by 2013: Samar


ISLAMABAD - The Thar coal project will become operational in December 2013, Science and Technology Planning Commission member Dr Samar Mubarakmand said on Thursday.

Talking to a private news channel, 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 (MW) gasified project has almost been completed.

He said that 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 Samar said that the success of the Thar coal project would 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 the 50 percent coal-fired power generation work has already been done, while the rest would be completed within a few 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.

He said that it was for the first time in Pakistan that the coal gasification project was being launched on commercial basis, adding that abundant and cheap electricity would be available if it gets through.

He said that coal gasification was already producing 50,000 MW around the world, as the cost of electricity per unit is relatively low.

He said that four continents in the world were working on this project as this method has enhanced energy efficiency to 76 percent.

He said that the new growth strategy of the country was being emphasised on power generation through coal, adding that the country’s installed capacity of thermal generation is 12,000 MW against hydel generation of 9,000 MW.


Thar coal project to become operational by 2013: Samar | Pakistan Today | Latest news, Breaking news, Pakistan News, World news, business, sport and multimedia
 
Good news. Pakistan will go bankrupt paying for the energy needs. This is the ony way forward.
 

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