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    The Vast Coal Reserves of Pakistan

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    Afzaal Ahmad khan
    The document discusses coal resources in Pakistan, focusing on the large reserves in Thar estimated at around 186 billion tons. It notes that China has expressed interest in developing a coal-powered power plant in Thar. The document also outlines the different ranks and qualities of coal, noting that the lignite coal found in Pakistan, while lower quality, could still be used for power generation after washing and with the appropriate plant design. Finally, it argues that Pakistan should further explore and utilize its indigenous coal resources to reduce dependence on expensive oil imports and lower the cost of power production.

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    The Vast Coal Reserves of Pakistan

    Uploaded by

    Afzaal Ahmad khan
    25 views4 pages
    The document discusses coal resources in Pakistan, focusing on the large reserves in Thar estimated at around 186 billion tons. It notes that China has expressed interest in developing a coal-powered power plant in Thar. The document also outlines the different ranks and qualities of coal, noting that the lignite coal found in Pakistan, while lower quality, could still be used for power generation after washing and with the appropriate plant design. Finally, it argues that Pakistan should further explore and utilize its indigenous coal resources to reduce dependence on expensive oil imports and lower the cost of power production.

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    The document discusses coal resources in Pakistan, focusing on the large reserves in Thar estimated at around 186 billion tons. It notes that China has expressed interest in developing a coal-powered power plant in Thar. The document also outlines the different ranks and qualities of coal, noting that the lignite coal found in Pakistan, while lower quality, could still be used for power generation after washing and with the appropriate plant design. Finally, it argues that Pakistan should further explore and utilize its indigenous coal resources to reduce dependence on expensive oil imports and lower the cost of power production.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    25 views4 pages

    The Vast Coal Reserves of Pakistan

    Uploaded by

    Afzaal Ahmad khan
    The document discusses coal resources in Pakistan, focusing on the large reserves in Thar estimated at around 186 billion tons. It notes that China has expressed interest in developing a coal-powered power plant in Thar. The document also outlines the different ranks and qualities of coal, noting that the lignite coal found in Pakistan, while lower quality, could still be used for power generation after washing and with the appropriate plant design. Finally, it argues that Pakistan should further explore and utilize its indigenous coal resources to reduce dependence on expensive oil imports and lower the cost of power production.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 4

    Assignment No: 3

    ENERGY RESOURCE UTILIZATION

    Topic: Coal resources in Pakistan


    Submitted to: Sir Saqib Naseer
    Submitted by: Hussn-e-yazdan
    Roll no. : 14-MCE-40

    NFC-Institute of Engineering and Fertilizers Research-Faisalabad


    The vast coal reserves of Pakistan, estimated at around 186 billion tons have finally started to
    attract foreign investment, the most prominent being China interested to setup a coal-powered
    power generation plant by end this year at Thar, the area that houses the largest reserves of over
    175 billion tons. Though many other countries, including Bosnia, have also shown keen interest
    in coal exploration. This article primary highlights the Chinese interest that would fuel coal
    exploration in the country.

    A pre-feasibility study of the Thar coal reserves has already being conducted by the Shinhua
    Group. As is, coal plays an important role as the primary and an inexpensive source for power
    generation. For instance, over half of the power generation in the US comes from coal, the share
    of which is expected to increase to 54 per cent by the year 2020. In many other developed
    countries it is also being used as the primary source for power generation.

    The policy makers in Pakistan have also realized the importance of coal as inexpensive power
    generation resource and that explains the government's plans meet 20 per cent of its energy
    demand from coal in the near future. The plant at Thar, funded by China would provide half a
    million dollars soft credit for the proposed 600 mw plant. It would be one of many other coal-
    powered plants across the country generating a total of 3,000 mw under the plan that envisages
    to meet 20 per cent of the energy demand from coal as planned.

    While no two coals are alike primary due to the fact that each has its very own chemical
    properties, it is encouraging to note that lignite type of coal found in Pakistan is suitable for
    power generation despite certain limitations. it contains high sulphur content and also high ash.
    However, lignite could be processed and washed to make it suitable for use in power generation.
    Coal found at Lakra mines, which has substantial reserves of over 1.3 billion tons, is found most
    suitable for washing. A national company, Shahzad International, with international links signed
    a MoU with the Sindh Government to set up a washing plant in November 2002 in the country
    which costing $ 4 million with an annual capacity of 1 million ton primary to be used by the
    cement industry.

    A number of studies have also been conducted for the use of Lakhra coal for power generation
    including government of Sindh, Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation and others. The coal
    is primary used by brick kilns and though, as reported by PAGE in its Issue No. 4 this year the
    half of cement industry has also converted to coal and the remaining is expected to shift from gas
    to coal by end this year, the conversion has not benefited the local coal because cement units use
    costly imported coal as the local coal is of low quality. However, the conversion has helped local
    coal find a new market because it is used in the mixing with the imported counterpart.

    While power plants could be a major consumer of indigenous coal, the high sulphur and ash
    content make it unsuitabel for the purpose and thus, at present, brick kilns are its major
    consumers.

    China's willingness to setup coal-powered plant around the coal mines in Thar makes all the
    more sense because it would help save heavy transportation expenses which otherwise makes the
    use of coal economically unviable. In addition, lignite found in Thar has comparative lower
    sulphur content to make it more suitable for power generation after the most suitable washing
    process and the most appropriate plant design.

    As mentioned earlier each coal differs from other in ways and no two coals are exactly the same.
    Just as oil is fossalised animals, coal is fossalised plants. Coals, however, differ in many different
    ways as per their heating value, ash melting, temperature, suphur and other impurities, and
    numerous other chemical and physical properties. These numerous properties of a coal determine
    its use for a particular purpose.

    Coal is primary classified into four major categories, or 'ranks'. Lginite, sub-bituminous,
    bituminous and anthracite. One of the most valuable content of coal is its carbon content which
    supplies most of its heating value. However, various other factors are also important to determine
    the amount of energy per unit weight of a particular coal.

    Bituminous and sub-bituminous 'ranks' of coal are inferior to anthracite while lignite ranks the
    lowest. Anthracite, the top ranked coal has the highest carbon content that ranges between 86-98
    per cent and has a heat value of nearly 15,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units) per pound. The
    bituminous variety is used primary to generate electricity and to make coke for the steel industry.
    It has a carbon content of between 45-86 per cent and a heat value of 10,500-15,500 BTUs per
    pound. Sub-bituminous comes next it has 35-45 per cent carbon content and a heat value of
    8,300-13,000 BTUs per pound. However, despite its lower heat value, sub-bituminous coal also
    has lower sulphur content compared to other 'ranks' which makes it attractive for use because it
    is much cleaner to burn.

    Lignite, the indigenous 'rank' found in Pakistan is a comparatively young coal geologically
    speaking and has the lowest carbon content of just 25-35 per cent and also the lowest heat value
    of only 4,000-8,300 BTUs per pound. However, lignite which is called 'brown coal' at times is
    mainly used for electric power generation.

    Having defined the various coal 'ranks' show that the vast deposits of indigenous lignite could be
    used in Pakistan for power generation to help lessen dependence on expensive oil imports which
    despite reduction, due primary to shifting of power plants to gas, still costs billions to the
    national economy annually.

    It's time to explore coal and develop coal-fired power plants to not only lessen dependence on
    imported fuel but also to cut the cost of power production for the benefit of the industries, trade
    and individual consumers.

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