ISLAMABAD: The appraisal of huge coal reserves confirmed by the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) in 2014 after extensive drillings started since 2012 will cost the government Rs 131 million.
“Rs 131.619 million will be used for appraisal of newly discovered coal resources in Badin and its adjoining areas of southern Sindh,” official sources in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources said. According to GSP, coal deposits were estimated to be over one billion tones.
“In addition, there are substantial deposits of gold, copper and more than 200 million tonnes of iron ore but these could not be exploited or utilised because of lack of infrastructure and technology,” added sources
They said efforts were also being made for exploration of tertiary coal in Central Salt Range, Punjab to meet the ever-growing domestic energy demand.
Recent geological investigations have shown that 185 billion tonnes of coal reserves exist in different parts of the country, which could be used as a primary and inexpensive source for power generation. “More than 184 billion tonnes deposits are located in Sindh, with Thar coal field being the largest followed by Thatta-Sonda, Lakhra and Jhimpir. The coal is lignite to lignite-A to sub bituminous B&C in character with an average heating value of 6,000 BTU/lb.”
Coal is primarily classified into four major categories, or ‘ranks’ such as lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous and anthracite. One of the most valuable content of coal is its carbon content which supplies most of its heating value. Sources said that further investigations were being carried out to explore and evaluate coal deposits in Musakhel, Kingri and Toisar Basin, Balochistan.
According to sources, the primary reason for not getting maximum benefit of the natural resources was the application of out-dated technologies, poor management and inadequate capital, besides security situation in some areas where the bulk of the mineral resources were located.
The mineral sector of Pakistan is spread over 600,000 square kilometres and 92 known minerals, while 52 are commercially exploited. Presently, sources said that above 5,000 operational mines and 50,000 small and medium enterprises were producing an average of 68.52 million tonnes per year and providing direct employment to 300,000 workers.