Pakistan’s largest coal reserves of over three billion tons finds in Thar

By our staff reporter
MITHI: The executives and officials on the other day succeeded in first shovel of lignite coal which was extracted at the coal pit -mining in the Thar coalfields, Block 1 near Islamkot town of Tharparkar.
The Pakistan’s largest coal mine with reserves of over 3 billion tons (or over 5 billion barrels of crude oil equivalent) with an annual output of 7.8 million tons per annum in just the first phase alone was found in Block 1 which is classified as an “Early Harvest Project – EHP” under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and it is a flagship project of China’s historic Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to bring unparalleled levels of infrastructure and development to countries falling under the BRI. Block 1 is owned and operated by Sino-Sindh Resources (Private) Limited (SSRL), which majority shareholder is Shanghai Electric Group.
The officials said that SSRL granted mining lease and project was included in Joint Energy Working Group (JEWG) by government of Pakistan and Government of China Abdul Qayyum adding officials said that as soon as both the governments of Pakistan and China officially announced CPEC in 2013, the Thar-Coal Block I project was included in CPEC as a part of Early Harvest program.
After becoming part of EHP of CPEC energy projects agreed between the Government of Pakistan and China, SSRL was fortunate to receive all round support from the Governments of Pakistan & China as well as from the government of Sindh.
After back to back meetings between SSRL and Shanghai Electric group and government of Sindh Energy Department, the first excavation started for development of the largest open-pit Coal mine in Block-I.
Soon after first excavation SSRL management started importing mining equipment from China and all the required equipment was at project Site. After arrival of machinery SSRL management and its sub-contractors worked in full capacity day and night despite all the challenges (COVID-19 Pandemic.
This achievement was only achievable after joint and well-coordinated efforts of our EPC contractors, SSRL engineering / management team and all other employees at the project site, they added.
They said the first shovel of coal would go a long way to solving the energy crisis, employment generation and allied developments resulting in commercial and other economic activities in the Thar region. Development of indigenous resource base at Thar will go a long way toward Pakistan achieving its long cherished goal of energy security and economic security and sovereignty.
Other hand, The Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah in his message congratulated the excetuviries, officials and workers of the different companies engaged in the mining in the block and termed it great successes of the joint efforts.
Mr. Shah said that it was the dream of their slain leader Ms. Benazir Bhutto to extract Thar coal reserves and to bring progress and prosperity in the desert region and other parts of the country.
Murad Shah said that with the new achievement these companies would soon start generating electricity through the power plants already installed in the block and would help them fight with the darkness in the country.