WASHINGTON, July 30: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has invited the international companies to make investment in coal-fired power plants and other projects in the province assuring them of full support of his government.

“I will extend warm welcome to all those interested in having a look at Sindh’s coal resources, especially the desert of Thar and its coal reserves for establishing power generation plants or for other purposes.

“As chief executive of the province, I extend my full support and assistance to prospective investors in coal resources of Sindh. We will also provide full access to all data and information available with provincial concerned departments,” he said in his opening address at a roundtable conference at the office of the World Bank here on Tuesday.

The WB and International Finance Corporation had sponsored the conference, presided over by Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

The Thar coal lignite reserves were estimated to be around 175 billion tons spread over an area of 9,000 square kilometres. The total coal resources in Sindh are estimated to be over 185 billion tons, considered sixth largest in the world. Over 90 per cent of country’s coal reserves are in Sindh, he told the participants.

He further stated that the government had facilitated infrastructure development at Thar coalfield where road network, electricity, optical fibre line, water supply, etc., are available while airstrip is being built and laying of a railway track has been approved.

“The mines department of Sindh has intensively explored an area of 455 sq km and further explorations are being undertaken to increase availability of blocks with complete data for potential investors,” he said.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah informed the participants about the response from both local and foreign investors to an offer for public-private joint venture in Thar coal-mining.

“They are enthusiastic and there are several investment proposals under consideration of the government. Some of the companies are participating in this conference.

“We have now formed Thar Coal and Power Board to ensure that the investors do not run for paper work from one department or ministry to other, and provide one-window facility to them.

“The large area of Thar coalfield cannot possibly be developed by a few companies. The existing energy gap and future demand makes it imperative upon the Sindh government to open up its coal resources for country’s needs.

“Coal has to be exploited at a very large scale for meeting the energy demands of the country. This includes demand for electricity as well as for fuel through coal-to-liquid technology and by gasification to conserve the fast depleting reserves of natural gas of Pakistan,” he said.

The Sindh Chief Minister said that development of Thar resources would provide certain degree of long-term energy security to Pakistan.

Over 36 companies from all over the world attended the conference also addressed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who holds the charge of ministry of petroleum and natural resources.—PPI