ISLAMKOT: The 330 MW ThalNova Power Thar was successfully synchronized with the national grid raising the total production of power from Thar coal to around 3,000 MW.

Minister of State Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani on behalf of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, whose flight was canceled due to bad weather in Thar, inaugurated the synchronization of ThalNova with the national grid by switching on the button in the control room of the project on Friday.

The CEO of Hubco Group Kamran Kamal and CEO of ThalNova Saleemullah Memon briefed the minister about the project and lauded efforts of the chief minister for his continued support and encouragement of investors for generating electricity from Thar coal.

The chief minister said in his message read out by Mr Malani at the ceremony that the addition of power plants like ThalNova that utilized local fuel would significantly support Pakistan in reducing its dependence on imported fuel. ThalNova had also created hundreds of direct employment opportunities for locals, he said.

Mr Shah said that Thar coal could be used to generate 100,000 MW of electricity for over 200 years. “The utilization of Thar coal will immensely impact Pakist-an’s development, allowing the government to save up to $6 billion on fuel import s,” he said.

Malani said that Thar coal was a game changer which was a great example of the friendship of Pakis-tan and China under CPEC.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2022