April 25, 2008	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 18, 1429

KARACHI, April 24: Experts at a seminar on Thursday expressed concern over very low power generation during the last nine years, and emphasised that huge deposits of Thar coal are the only answer to energy crisis in the country.

They said that the execution of Thar Coal Project, which is an integrated project of mining and power generation, be solely assigned to the Sindh Coal Authority after making it an independent professional organisation, with all decision-making and administrative powers so that companies engaged in this mega project be provided one-window facility.

At present, various provincial and federal ministries and other public sector organisations are involved at various stages or components which was leading to duplication of work and wastage of time and money.

The seminar also recommended that the Sindh Coal Authority should have its own independent chairman, instead of administered by the provincial minister for minerals.

The seminar titled “energy crisis: power generation from coal, a major option,” was organised by the Institute of Engineers Pakistan, in collaboration with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) at the Federation House.Those who spoke included PPP Sindh council member Wali Mohammad Rahimoon, acting FPCCI President Mohammad Farooq Dadabhoy, Institute of Engineers Pakistan Chairman Zaffaruddin A. Zuberi, K K Sharma, PSO Chairman Sardar M. Yasin Malik, Aftab Ali Rahimoon, Dr Rafique Ahmed Khan, Syed Sibte Ahmed Jafri, Mohammad Abdullah Farooqui, Dr M Yaqoob Chugtai and Shiraz Ali Motandas. They gave presentations on how to make best use of huge coal deposits in Thar for the much-needed eclectic power generation and other industries without wasting further time.

The participants recommended that for realisation of targets and goals of mining coal of Thar for power generation on a fast track basis, the government should discourage use of gas and oil for new thermal power plants.

They, however, stated that the existing aging units in public sector be modernised and converted to combine cycle for enhancement of capacity and efficiency wherever possible.

It was suggested that apart from government functionaries, the following set of stakeholders be considered as an integral part of the project for their services:

The consultants who worked at Thar Coal Field on Coal Mining; investors for coal field and for setting up of power plant; experts working in mines and construction of plants.

They recommended formation of a task force, comprising three to four members from private forums, such as FPCCI, IEP, the consultants and the renowned professionals, to have an official status to liaise with government functionaries at federal and provincial levels for giving them an independent opinion on the status of the projects undertaken by the private and the public sector on the development of the coal mining and the integrated power plants.

For making Pakistan competitively attractive for investment in coal-mining, it was proposed that sovereign guarantees be provided on investment by investors and power purchase tariff should be on the basis of feasibility report without compromising the national interests.

The participants proposed display of all studies and recommendations on the website and for making public the comments from consultants, experts and other stakeholders for conclusions as to the viability of the Thar coal fields for mining and setting up of power plants at the mine’s mouth or other places and feeding the coal through transportation.

The government should ensure security of investment to investors on a long-term basis, and formulate an investor-friendly coal-mining policy without undue thresholds.

The experts recommended tax holidays for 15-25 years on all the required mining equipment, transportation equipment, power plant equipment and infrastructure.

Wali Mohammad Rahimoon, who is from Thar, emphasised that huge deposits of Thar coal are the only answer to energy crisis in the country.—APP