LAHORE: The Punjab government has introduced semi-mechanised mining technology to get maximum production of coal for operating its coal-based power plants.

The modern technology would also be helpful in optimal utilisation of domestic coal reserves, a senior official of the provincial mines and minerals department told APP on Saturday. He said the government was restructuring the mining sector and huge incentives were also being offered to foreign investors in the mining sector.

He said promotion of the latest technology in the mining sector and capacity building of the mines and minerals department was a priority of the Punjab government.

He said there were 600 million tonnes of local coal reserves in Salt Range area of the province and the government was providing maximum possible facilities and incentives to local and foreign investors for mining of these coal reserves at low cost of production.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2016