Oracle announces USD 610 million investments in Thar Block VI

Friday, 17 Feb 2012

Oracle Coalfields Plc, the operators of Block VI of the Thar coal project have announced their plans to invest up to USD 610 million for a coal mine of 5 million tonnes per annum capacity.

Mr Shahrukh Khan CEO Oracle Coalfields said that “The institutional investors abroad have no reservations in investing in Pakistan and they are willing to expose in the resource sector particularly in a project that is expected to yield a return of 20.5%. Besides, the international lenders are also interested in the project.”

Mr Khan informed about the details of the feasibility of coal mining and power generation project at Block VI and continuing significant progress in the development of its 1.4 billion tonnes flagship coal resource project in Thar, Sindh.

He said that the results of the comprehensive technical feasibility study undertaken last year confirmed the technical and economic viability of the project. This represents a significant step towards providing the nation, Sindh and local communities in Thar with a new sustainable source of energy for decades to come by bringing into production its first large scale open pit coal mine.

Oracle has also signed MoU with Karachi Electricity Supply Company to develop initially 300 MW mine mouth power plant with the plan to develop up to 11 MW at the Block VI site. Initial coal production is expected in 2014 with mine development to be started by the end of the current year.

The feasibility study results concentrated on an initial mining area with Block VI of approximately 20 square kilometers and reported in accordance with the international recognized 2004 Australian JORC Code, a mineral resource of 529 million of wet tonnes.

Mr Khan said that within this overall mining area, a Phase 1 zone was determined with coal reserves of 113 MWT. With further potential increase in reserves in Phase 2 of the mining area, the life of mine could be extended by a further 30 years or more.

Mr Younas Dhaga Sindh Coal and Energy Secretary said that infrastructure development is underway on a fast pace and the provincial government had approved various schemes and allocated funds.

Mr Dhaga also informed about the Engro’s project and said that they have completed their bankable feasibility and are waiting some infrastructure updating. The Sindh government has decided to award Block IV of the Thar coal project to Chinese state owned Three Gorges.

(sourced www.thenews.com.pk)