Exploitation of Thar coal is very important, especially for enhancing energy security.
Clean coal technologies are being developed and incorporated in power generation plants in the developed countries. SCA and the government may look for relevant details and approach friendly countries; particularly their special funds established for promoting use of clean coal technologies and for building a data bank on coal mining and coal-based power plants indicating capital costs of projects, technology used and the financing methods.
One such source of valuable information is COAL21 which is an initiative of the Australian Coal Association aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions arising from the use of coal in electricity generation. It is a collaborative, consensus-building programme involving participants from federal and state governments, the coal and electricity industries, and research organisations.
The career officers employed in the provincial or federal government can perform diversified activities . However, for specialised activities, often the governments engage experts in different ministries and departments. SCA may be strengthened by engaging experts with high exposure in coal / lignite mining as well as in use of high sulphur lignite in power generation.
At the government level there should be technical tie-up with specialised funds / foreign governments supporting development and use of clean coal technologies. Regular officials as well as experts may be provided extensive training and exposure including participation in conferences with a view to enhance their capabilities in these areas.
These officers would initially be facilitating the interested parties / investors who have signed MOUs with the government on developing coal mines for setting up coal-based power plants. They will eventually be overseeing mining and power generation operations and collecting royalty, excise duty or other dues from the investors. Their role particularly with positive attitude is very important for the success of the Thar coal initiative.
SCA will have to go out of its way by taking a number of actions and measures, some of which may include: (i) special invitations to officers / experts who have been interacting with the government on development of Thar coal for power generation; (ii) posting on the website of the government of Sindh of different policies, reports, progress reports, information documents, standardized text of MOUs, procedures specific to coal mining for power generation, various forms used in the mining concessions, income tax rules regarding profit/losses by coal mining companies, etc; (iii) and printing of important document such as National Mining Policy-1995, PPIB report on use of coal for power generation; selected extract of reports prepared on mining of Thar coal and its use for power generation; synopsis or summary of findings and recommendations of the technical reports.
There are lot of activities and construction going on in and near Thar coal fields. Thar lodge is under construction and different roads are being developed. On the one hand job opportunities are opening up for a large number of people and at the same time there are fears on the part of local people of being displaced from coal-bearing and adjoining areas due to mining of coal, acquiring of land for setting up of power plants and development of infrastructure including new townships for the people working in the mines and power plants, etc.
The displacement of people and the minimization of environmental degradation are the two most important areas needing careful attention of the government. The people to be displaced must be generously compensated including free provision of residential accommodation and should be trained at government expense to enable them to adjust to the new environment of coal mining and power generation activities.
There are three groups of stakeholders who need particular attention of SCA/ government. These are: (i) consultants who worked on Thar coal for developing different studies on coal, coal-based gas or underground water in the Thar coal field areas; (ii) investors who are working in the coal field to determine extent of available coal and water suitability for ultimately setting up coal-based power plants; (iii) and the technical experts who would be working in the coal mines or the power plants or the construction of these facilities or would be the suppliers of appropriate technologies.
SCA has to be ready for suitably handling complaints, if any, regarding matters such as unfair and discriminatory treatment, abnormal delays in sorting out routine matters, absence or insufficiency of promised infrastructure facilities, etc.
SCA has also an important role in facilitating the mining of coal and setting up of the power generation plants. However, all power so generated will be sold to different entities in the public sector, carved out of power wing of Wapda , at rates to be determined by Nepra and agreements made with PPIB on the one hand and the financiers of the mining-cum-power generation projects on the other. The provincial government/SCA have to be working in close cooperation and coordination with different federal ministries and institutions. Things would not move without such close working relationships among different stakeholders.
The ministry of petroleum and natural resources (MP&NR), has meanwhile requested for expression of interest for consultancy services. The major activities within scope of services of the selected firm include: (i) development of policies, plans, programme, projects and their implementation mechanism; (ii) suggesting of methodology to enhance coal production from the existing proven coal reserves, setting up of down stream coal mining industry by adoption / utilization of latest technology; (iii) making Pakistan competitively attractive for investment in coal mining, suggest viable fiscal package of income tax, royalty, custom duty rates etc; and (iv) designing a viable layout for coordination between federal and provincial governments / institutions.