KARACHI: The first plant producing electricity from coal gas energy would be launched in Thar in April 2015.

This was stated by Managing Director Dr Mohammad Shabir of the Underground Coal Gasification while talking to reporter at the project site near Islamkot on Saturday.

The Sindh government has allotted Block-5 of Thar coal field to the UCG led by Dr Samar Mubarak Mand to generate underground coal gas known as Syn gas to produce electricity.

The project started in 2009, but for want of funds, the project could not take off in time, Dr Shabbir pointed out and said that due to personal efforts of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, the funds got released in 2012 and “we started work”.

He said: “Underground coal gasification was a new project, therefore, widespread criticism started squarely. But we did not succumb to pressure but continued our efforts,” he stated.

He further said: “In the first phase, an experimental structure was raised under which pipes were drilled down 160 metres deep into the coalfield to reach the coal bed. After pumping out underground water ‎lying near the coal bed, coal was fired underground and the coal gas produced. The gas was supplied to an experimental plant and a flame was lit. With the grace of God, the project succeeded.”

Dr Shabir recalled that in the original scheme under the UCG, 100MW power plant was to be installed at a cost of Rs9 billion, but the government was short of funds, therefore, it was launched as a pilot project to install 10MW power plant. “Initially, we are launching 4MW electricity and within a month its capacity would be enhanced to 10MW and then to 100MW,” he said.

Dr Shabir, who is originally an atomic scientist, said: “We have installed a power plant with four power engines. Entire internal connecting cable network has been completed. Coal gas generation is in progress and it is at the finishing stage,” he said and added a Chinese team would arrive in March to start the turbines imported from China and the project would be formally launched.

“We are going to organise an impressive launching ceremony, presided over by Asif Ali Zardari, in the desert of Thar with prime minister as chief guest and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah as guest of honour to inaugurate this unique project of the country,” he said proudly and added that this project was bound to change the destiny of the people of Pakistan in general and people of Thar in particular.

Published in Dawn, December 22th, 2014