National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): The government has issued its
guarantee in favour of the Engro Powergen Thar Limited (EPTL),
by recognizing the achievement of financial close of the
Mining and Power Projects being undertaken by Sindh Engro Coal
Mining Company (SECMC) and EPTL in Thar Block II.
“This significant development marks a new era for energy
security in Pakistan and the realization of Thar dream,” said
a press statement issued by the EPTL.
Pakistan will now rely on its indigenous coal reserves
in Tharparkar for future energy security the statement said
adding it was an important development which after decades of
relentless pursuit has finally been brought to fruition.
According to the statement SECMC will be responsible for
extracting 1.57 billion tons of lignite coal available in its
allocated area of Block II in Tharparkar.
During the first phase of the Project, a mine of 3.8
million tones per annum capacity will be developed by SECMC.
This coal will be utilized by a mine-mouth power plant
of 2×330 MW, a Project which is being established by Engro
Powergen Limited, a Joint Venture Company of Engro Powergen
China Machinery and Engineering Company, Habib Bank Limited
and Liberty Mills Limited.
The Federal Government’s role has been instrumental to
the success of the project to date, the statement said and
added the provision of USD 700 m Sovereign Guarantee fully
backed by the provincial government and the Project’s addition
to the China Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) earlier last year
paved the way for the Financial Close to be achieved in a
timely fashion.
The USD 250 million transmission line is also being
constructed by NTDC to evacuate power generated from Thar
block 2 to Matiari.