Sindh Coal and Energy Department has been able to attract attention of two large Chinese energy companies, China Three Gorges Corporation and Orient Group and has signed MoUs with them in Beijing.

Mr Wang Shaofeng vice chairman of China Three Gorges Corporation and Mr Mohammad Younus Dagha secretary Coal and Energy Board signed the MoU on Tuesday. Under the agreement, the Chinese company will participate in international bidding for Thar coalfield’s blocks VIII, IX and X as well as for Sonda coalfield.

The Thar project covers coal mining and 4,000 MW of power generation with an estimated investment of around USD 8 billion. Apart from participating in future projects in Thar, the company has already purchased a ready project in Sonda coalfield at Thatta which was earlier developed by CMC of China for coal mining and power generation.

Another MoU was signed on Wednesday by Mr Hongwei Zhang chairman of Orient Group and United Energy Group and Mr Mohammad Younus Dagha secretary Coal and Energy Board. The MoU covers both coal power and wind energy projects in Sindh. The group has shown interest in developing coal based power plants in Thar and Badin coalfields.

It has also acquired letter of intent for 150 MW wind power project in the first 2 years which the company intends to scale up to 500 MW in 4 years. UEG has already invested in oilfields of Badin by acquiring British Petroleum’s concessions in the district. The new endeavors of UEG will bring another investment of around USD 1.2 billion to USD 2.5 billion.

(Sourced from the Express Tribune)