KARACHI: The provincial government on Tuesday extended full support and assistance to Chinese investors for establishing a solar panel manufacturing plant in the province.

During a meeting with a delegation of Chinese investors at his office, Energy Minister Nasir Hussain Shah highlighted the ample opportunities available in the solar energy sector. He assured the delegation that if solar panel manufacturing were undertaken in the province, the government would provide full support to the investors.

The visiting investors expressed interest in exploring opportunities across several fields within the energy sector.

The Chinese delegation included Wang Xin from Wind Power, Xo Zhingang from Solar Energy Companies, and other investors. Also present at the meeting were Energy Secretary Musaddiq Ahmed Khan, Managing Director of the Thar Coal Energy Board Tariq Ali Shah, Director General of Coal Mines Naseem Al-Ghani Sahto, Chief Operating Officer of Energy Holding Company Tufail Ahmed Khoso, and other officials.

During the meeting, the energy minister gave a detailed briefing on investment prospects in the energy sector. He emphasised the attractive opportunities for both foreign and domestic investors, noting that “profitable investments can be made in the Thar Coal Field and alternative energy sectors, for which the provincial government will provide full cooperation, assistance with documentation, and all necessary facilities regarding land.”

Mr Shah informed the delegation that the province is home to 185 billion tons of coal reserves, with 175 billion tons located in the Thar Coal Field. This field, situated 395 kilometers from Karachi, spans an area of approximately 9,100 square kilometers.

The meeting was further briefed that the Thar Coal Field comprises 12 blocks currently under development, each containing two to five billion tons of coal reserves spread over an area of 1,235 square kilometers.

It was further informed that each block had the capacity to generate 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts of electricity for 30 years.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2024