This is apropos of the letter Thar coal debate by Mr Mirza Talib Hassan. He has rightly pointed to the need for an integrated approach under a master plan to develop this resource.

In fact, this activity was carried out by the Planning Commission in June 2009 and it was agreed that a real bankable feasibility will be prepared by digging a small test and development mine to obtain bulk samples needed for a meaningful study.

Mr Parvez Butt ex chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission was asked to head this activity. Underground coal gasification was allowed as a small pilot project under Dr Samar Mubarakmand. Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali presided over the meeting.

Unfortunately, the UCG approach has been over projected and instead of a small pilot project it has been converted into a national energy project which it was not meant to be. Thar will develop the day we start digging for bulk samples which are needed for any meaningful development.

Even the UCG model requires bulk samples of coal which are non-existent, not a ton of coal has been extracted thus far while billions have been spent on side issues. It is time to call in the experts for a meaningful consensus on the way forward before public money is committed.

(sourced from www.dawn.com)