INSIDE THAR .

A GREAT MYTH
By: Kashif Niazi

Thar coal project facing delays

Tharparkars underground coal gasification project is facing delays and the deadline for completion of the project may further be extended as pledged funds have not yet been received from the provincial and federal governments. The Sindh government is yet to release Rs200 million while the centre is to transfer Rs5 billion for purchasing power engines and other equipment. Sources said that President Asif Ali Zardari has taken notice of delay in the release of funds and would review the projects progress shortly. The government plans to purchase engines of 1.5MW each to use the gas for generating power and the project was expected to generate at least 100MW by mid-next year. Overall, $1.2 billion funds are required for the proposed 84 gasifiers and its financial feasibility report had been sent to the government. Pakistan is enriched with huge deposits of untapped coal reserves in Sindh to attain selfsufficiency in power production and different energy needs, including industrial and domestic gas and automobile fuels. Sources said Block-5 (64sq km) of Thar allocated for gasification project could meet the energy demands of the country for over 30-35 years as it has reserves of 1.4 billion tons.The country can easily meet the expected demands of around 2200 mmcft by 2015 through the project with an investment of merely $1.2 billion. The UCG project at Tharparker started under the supervision of Dr Samar Mubarakmand and was successfully producing gas. The first test-burn at the underground coal gasification project was carried out in December 2011 after completing the first gasifier and civil works with the availability of $9.22 million funds. The completion of a gasifier also involves over 36,000 feet of drilling and 18,000 feet of steelcasing and other engineering works. The pilot project in the first phase was initially aimed at generating gas for producing 100MW by next year, and is now being planned to be extended from approved 18 to 84 gasifiers.

According to an estimate, a gasifier could easily produce the required gas for at least 10 years. The project ensures immediate supply of gas besides power generated by the underground gasification would be much cheaper. The electricity generated through the process would be available at $16 per MW as compared to $77 per MW and $69 per MW produced through Integrated Gas Combined Cycle and Natural Gas Combined Cycle, respectively. The demand of gas in the country is currently 5,500 mmcft as against daily production of 4,000mmcft. There will be a shortfall of 1,500mmcft in 2012 and it may reach 2,200mmcft by 2015. To meet the expected demand, almost 84 gasifiers were needed to be established at the side as a gasifier was estimated to produce at least 26.5 mmcft gas. Currently only one gasifier has started producing gas while another 17 units are in the pipeline. At least 49 to 50 gasifiers would be established in one square km of the Block-5 which was stretched over 64 sq km. One gasifier was being built at a cost of Rs1.2 billion, making the total cost of 84 units Rs101 billion or $1.12 billion.
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While requesting for funds for Thar Coal Project Dr Samar Mubarikmand said, This blue pollution free flame of the gas burns in a flare and illuminates the dark night skies of Thar . He has asked for Rs 9.9 billion and the new deadline is Dec 2013. Perhaps there is no project in the world that has been approved by the colour of the flame. We are not developing a nuclear device all commercial projects require bankable feasibility and audit. The claims of the nuclear scientist have to be audited by a team of experts. The blue flame at Thar as claimed by him has to be analysed with complete energy balance of inputs and outputs, otherwise we will be wasting two more years in an untested technology that is not in commercial production anywhere in the world. Dr Samar has been pursuing the Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) approach since early 2009 and has consumed around Rs 1 billion of the federal government and Rs 35 million of the Punjab Government with no meaningful output. The entire Thar Coal Development effort has been misdirected. Before any more release of funds there must be an evaluation by experts in the filed of coal mining and gasification not nuclear scientists. Coal is being gasified all over the world after mining in controlled reactors above the ground. I have been involved with the project since 2004, till today not a ton of coal has been extracted now the blue flame has emerged. As a nation we neither have time nor resources to waste on Totka Technologies. Development at Thar will start with digging. UCG is a detour. Making tall claims to seek extension in service has never produced results. The UCG Program of the retired nuclear scientists should be reviewed first before new extensions otherwise it should be shut down and the team sent home.

Mining at Thar should start without delay. With this resource Pakistan has the potential to emerge as an energy surplus nation provided established/proven technologies are utilised. Coal mining and gasification experts have to be called in.
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Member of the Science and Technology Planning Commission Dr Samar Mubarakmand on Monday said that the Thar coal project will become operational in December 2013 and will bring prosperity into the country. Talking to a news channel, he further said that at least $115 billion is required to materialise this project. He added that Thar contains 175 billion ton reserves of coal, out of which 1000 megawatts (MW) electric power may be generated for the next 30 years. Pakistan has enough coal reserves that can provide electricity to the country for more than 500 years, he said. He said that development work was in progress and the first 50 MW gasified project had almost been completed. He said that the project was to cost Rs8.99 billion with a foreign exchange component of Rs5.85 billion that was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council last year. To another question, Dr Mubarakmand said that the success of the Thar coal project would lead to investment from leading international companies. He said that several foreign companies wanted to participate in the project and had shown interest. He said that these companies are just waiting for the results of the maiden 50 MW pilot project, adding that if the pilot project was successful, a barrage of investment would automatically follow. He said that the coal in Thar mines could not be extricated but used to manufacture electric power, diesel and fertiliser.

Thar coal power generation project has completed successfully, member of the Science and Technology Planning Commission, Dr Samar Mubarakmand said on Wednesday. Talking to Aaj news, Dr. Samar said that the project would bring prosperity in the country. Pakistan has enough coal reserves that can provide electricity to the country for more than 30 years, he said. The team of Dr Samar has achieved a great success in producing natural gas from under ground coal gasification technology in Thar coal Block 5. Dr Mubarak said, coal was burnt at about 250 feet underground on December 11, on December 19 scientist successfully found the gas at Islam kot area of Thar.

He further added that, This project can generate 10,000 megawatts electricity for 30 years and can produce 100million barrel diesel per year. He said that the project is to cost Rs8.898 billion with a foreign exchange component of Rs 5.847 billion that was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council last year. Dr Mubarakmand said that the success of the Thar coal project will lead to investment from the leading international companies. With the completion of coal-fired power generation project, the nation would get cheap and sufficient power supply thus resolving the current pestering energy crisis, he added. Dr. Samar said it is for the first time in Pakistan that the coal gasification is being launched on commercial basis and abundant and cheap electricity will be available. He said the coal gasification was already producing 50000MW around the world, as the cost of electricity per unit is relatively low. He said the four continents in the world are working on this project, as this method has enhanced energy efficiency reaching to 76 per cent. He said the new growth strategy of the country is being emphasised on power generation through coal. .. Chairman Thar Coal Project Board Dr Samar Mubarakmand has said that the project is facing obliteration if the finance ministry does not issue the funds within next two weeks. The finance ministry is not issuing the funds despite the directives of the President and the Prime Minister, he said. It has refused to discuss the issue despite allocating time twice, he added. Dr Mubarakmand told Our Sources that despite gasification the gas is being wasted. Once this work is done and the new machinery is brought in the water would enter the chambers and the gas produced would be gone completely. He further said that Rs 1 billion has been spent on the projected and Rs 2 billion is needed immediately. The finance ministry has not issued a single rupee during the current fiscal year, he added. To be continued