Pakistan’s Thar coal reserves, one of the largest deposits in the world, should be used to offset the power shortages that have been plaguing the country's economy.
This was the proposal of Dr. Samar Mubarakmund, a Pakistani scientist and member of his country’s planning commission, speaking at the 39th technical seminar of the Institute of Engineers Pakistan, Saudi Arabian chapter. The seminar was held at the Prince Salman Social Center on Thursday evening.
Mubarakmund said that his country had exhausted nearly all its natural gas reserves over the past 25 years, and that the current energy crisis was culminating in losses of Rs 230 billion. He said the Pakistani government “must declare the preservation and systematic use of coal a matter of national security and strategic importance,” adding that international donors and multinational companies must be invited to invest in the project.
He explained that the Thar coalfield spanning an area of 9,000 sq. km contains over 175 billion tons of lignite coal, which has a heat value of 3,921 kJ/kg. “Pakistan gets 58 percent of its power from oil, 33 percent from hydro projects while 2 percent of its electricity is produced by nuclear projects,” said Mubarakmund. He added that India derives an impressive 65 percent of its electricity from coal.
Mubarakmund, a pioneer in introducing the Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) technique in his country, said that the process not only yields electricity but also naphtha, diesel and other products, noting that China and South Africa were already using the UCG process which yields much cheaper power than fossil fuels. “The capital expenditure on a UCG power station, inclusive of the cost on gasifiers is $ 1.2 per watt, the lowest on any power production plan,” said Mubarakmand, adding that the Thar coal belt reserves are the most accessible in the world.
In his presidential address, Muhammad Naeem Khan, ambassador of Pakistan, stated that China had initiated the Thar coal project in his country in 1904, but owing to low yields it was abandoned. He expressed hopes that an expert like Mubarakmund would be able to tap the huge energy reserves lying dormant there.
Khan thanked the Saudi government for assisting Pakistan in times of crises. He said that his countrymen abroad were patriotic, and would help pull their nation out of its economic morass. The ambassador praised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for attending an energy conference, saying it was proof of his dedication to solving the energy crisis in Pakistan. The chairman of the institute moved the vote of thanks. The moderator was Sayyed Mubashar Kirmani. Ibrahim Al-Hammad represented the Saudi Council of Engineers. Shields and certificates of appreciation were presented at the end.