Accord signed to generate power from Thar coal.

KARACHI, September 08, 2009 (Balochistan Times): Sindh government and Engro Power Generation Company (EPGC) have signed an agreement on coal mining to generate power from Thar coal block No 2. The accord was signed in a ceremony held here Tuesday in chief minister house Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, provincial minister for irrigation Syed Murad Ali Shah and others were present on the occasion. Talking to the journalists on the occasion chief minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah said Thar coal was treasure of Sindh and many people did not want this coal be extracted and Sindh should make progress. The present government would exploit this coal treasure and make Sindh prosper by producing electricity from it, he announced. He indicated EPGC would install power house as well which would generate 600 to 1000 megawatt electricity. The locals would be made part of the mining process of Thar coal and they would be provided job opportunities. Thar coal was property of the people and people of Sindh would benefit from it, he observed. China and EPGC had undertaken study of block-2 of Thar coal but EPGC would work out feasibility report following the signing of accord, he told. An international conference would be held on Thar coal, he pointed out. Government of Sindh would spend money on infrastructure development and an airport would be built in Thar, he announced. Federal government had approved funds in this respect, he added. This project would be completed under public-private partnership. Under the agreement 60 percent investment would be made by EPGC and 40 percent by Sindh government, he told. 2 percent profit would be spent on the education and uplift of the local population, chief minister Sindh declared.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)