The Minister Punjab for Mines and Minerals has said that both the federal and provincial governments were putting in every effort to counter the energy crisis. He further said that the energy crises will be eliminated by 2018.
The Provincial Minister of Mines and Minerals for Punjab Assembly, Chaudhry Sher Ali Khan, presided over a meeting on introduction of new technologies in the coal mining sector. He mentioned that mechanizing the mining industry is among the top priorities for the Punjab government and that the technology will significantly improve capabilities of coal-powered thermal power plants.
He said that there are 600 million tons of coal reservoirs in the Salt Range area of Pakistan alone. He said that to take benefit of indigenous fuel minerals maximum possible facilities were being provided to local as well as the foreign investors. He said that the private sector will be able to get coal at low production costs.
The Minister also mentioned few power projects including a 100 MW Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power Plant Bahawalpur which is already functional, Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) powered power plants at Bhikki, Hawaili Bahadur Shah, and Balluki. He indicated that the work on a 250 MW wind turbine project. He further said that a number of coal-powered thermal power plants were also on the list including a 300 MW project at Pind Dadan Khan and a 1320 MW project in Sahiwal.
Source —Pakistan Today, Image —National Geographic
