THIS is regarding the news item ‘Prospects of coal gasification for electricity discussed” (June 8) in which Mr Kashif Younis Meher, SVP of LCCI, provided erroneous information during the seminar.

Underground coal gasification is an experimental technology which is not in commercial application anywhere in the world, as such there is no question of producing 80,000MW using this method.

Coal after mining is being gasified and then used for power and other products.

The standard process is to mine and then to gasify the coal, enough time and resources have been wasted in pursuing technologies that are not ready for commercial application.

Dr Samar Mubarakmand’s pilot plant has to be evaluated by experts before committing any more public funds, all his claims remain unverified.

The information in the report is misleading and should be corrected.

DR FARID A.MALIK Ex-chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation