Nature has blessed our country with so many resources that we can become a prosperous nation by utilising them. Thar coal is said to be amongst the world’s largest coal reserves situated in Tharparkar, Sindh. About 9,100 square kilometres of Thar desert contains 175.506 billion tonnes of coal. An estimate of Pakistan Economy Watch suggests that the reserves are worth 25 trillion US dollars and only by putting 2 percent of it into use we can produce 20,000 megawatts of electricity for the next 40 years.
Coal is the most important energy source used for the generation of electricity in several developed and developing countries. The statistics of the World Coal Institute London compiled in 2006 indicate that the US produces 52.2 percent of its electricity through coal, China produces 77.5 percent of its total electricity by coal, our neighbour India generates 70 percent of power by coal. The figure for South Africa is 92.2 percent, while we are using just 5.0 percent of our coal for energy generation.
Several MoUs were signed between past governments of the PPP and multinational exploration companies. They even invested and began work on the infrastructure but after the removal of the PPP government, Mian Nawaz Sharif ended these projects on political grounds. During the Musharraf regime, a Chinese company was invited to invest in a project to generate 600 MW of electricity but due to the unfriendly attitude of Wapda and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), the Chinese company had to quit.
Now, when we are facing the worst-ever energy crisis, we must start developing Thar coalfields. Sindh Coal and Energy Board has been established under the chairmanship of the Sindh Chief Minister, which has still to show any performance. For an end to the energy crisis once and for all, the development of Thar coal is the most feasible option.
KASHIF ALI RAJPAR
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