PM Claims That Thar Coal Project Can Save Pakistan $6 Billion

Thar Coal’s inauguration ceremony was joined by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Bilawal Zardari and Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah on Monday. The 330-megawatt power plant project is being built under the CPEC block II, in Tharparkar, Sindh and Pm claims in the inauguration speech that it can save Pakistan $6 Billion. A week ago, Shebaz Sharif visited the site of the project and explained the importance of linking Thar Coal with the Railway to eliminate all the problems the Railway is currently facing.

Referring to the inaugural ceremony, PM Shehbaz said that Thar coal will generate electricity with 10 rupees per unit.

“It is a project, which is being completed with modern technology. These coal power plants would not create pollution. The region has massive 175 billion tonnes of coal deposits, it is a treasure in Thar. Brilliant projects are being installed here for power generation. Women here operating RO plants, people getting jobs,” the PM lauding the effort in Thar said.

He said the federal and Sindh governments came together to ink the MoU and expressed the hope that it would be implemented by March 2023, enabling the transportation of coal to all parts of the country. Thar Coal will be linked with the Rail Network and this project will be executed by the Federal and Sindh governments. The Prime Minister directed the concerned authorities to complete this linking project by March 2023. Prime Minister Shehbaz and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah would also sign a Memorandum of Understanding soon

“In Pakistan 4,000-megawatt electricity is being generated with coal. Pakistan is spending 24 billion dollars to meet its energy requirement. The gas has become very expensive and out of our purchasing power. It will be a collective mistake if we fail to utilize this massive deposit of coal,”

Earlier, Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah in a detailed briefing said that generating electricity from Thar Coal required an extensive road network, bridges and an airport.

The Chief Minister said that the Sindh government has built the infrastructure of Thar by spending 750 million dollars. According to the geological Survey of Pakistan, Thar coal has 175 billion tons of coal reserves, and it has a total of 13 blocks. We are working on Block I and Block II, he said.

“We have to join hands to take steps, the coal can be transported with a coordinated system of the railway. The rail project will help in the transportation of coal to every part of the country. This project could save the country five to six billion dollars a year. I will summon a session of stakeholders over the matter,” Shehbaz said.

Earlier, Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah in a detailed briefing said that generating electricity from Thar Coal required an extensive road network, bridges and an airport.