The Pakistani government has embarked on a significant strategic shift, committing to substantially increase the use of indigenous Thar coal for power generation, a move projected to slash the country’s annual import expenditure by $2 billion.
Government officials have outlined that the initial phase of this energy transition will center on converting the 600-megawatt Lucky Power Plant to operate on locally sourced coal. Officials also confirmed that a 120-kilometer railway line, linking Thar to Chor, will be finalized by December to streamline coal transportation.
The transition will progress into a second phase, encompassing plans to adapt both the Sahiwal and Bin Qasim power plants to utilize domestic coal resources. Officials clarified that the Lucky Power Plant’s technology was originally engineered to accommodate local coal specifications, while other plants currently dependent on imported coal will necessitate technological adjustments.
Beyond power generation, authorities intend to make Thar coal readily available to cement factories and various other industrial sectors, thereby amplifying its economic impact across a spectrum of industries.
Government representatives emphasized that the transition from imported coal to domestic resources will yield considerable economic advantages, with projected annual savings of approximately $2 billion on the national import bill.
This initiative signifies a pivotal transformation in Pakistan’s energy policy, prioritizing domestic resources to lessen reliance on foreign imports while harnessing the country’s abundant Thar coal reserves.
