Lignite, the indigenous coal mostly 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 6,000-10,000 BTUs per pound.

However, lignite, which is called 'brown coal', can be used for electric power generation. Lignite found in Thar has comparatively lower sulphur content, makes it more suitable for power generation after the washing process and an appropriate plant design.

The local production of coal is estimated at 3.21 million tons out of which presently over 80 per cent is being utilized by bricks makers, while the rest are being consumed by the cement industry to blend it with the imported coal to reduce the production cost, and only one per cent by the coal-based power stations.

It is reported that around 85 per cent of the cement industry has shifted on low-priced coal from relatively more expensive natural gas and furnace oil. The conversion has small impact on the local coal production because cement units are using high rank imported coal as the indigenous coal is of low quality.

Indigenous coal is blended with imported coal in small proportion, which is necessary for smooth operation of the plant. During the 2002, the cement industry utilized one million tons of imported coal from South Africa, Austria and Indonesia. Imported coal cost Rs3150 to Rs3510 per ton while local coal cost Rs1300 to Rs2500 per ton.

Use of coal as fuel in sugar industry can save around 9 million tons bagasse, which can be utilized to produce medium density fibreboard, excellent replacement of furniture-making wood and consequently saving our fast depleting forests.

Coal is also an important raw material for the production of several chemicals. Refined coal tar can be used in the manufacture of a range of chemicals including pitch, creosote oil, naphthalene, phenol, pyridine, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylene, propylene, polyesters, plastics, synthesis gas, acetic acid, acetic anhydride.

Numerous chemicals and fuels can be manufactured from the gasification of coal. In late 1950's, Pak-American Fertilizers, Iskandarabad, Daudkhel was based on gasification technology supplied by Lurgi to produce ammonia and ammonium sulfate fertiliser.

Sasol of South Africa has developed the processes for production of petrochemicals from coal, with high ash content by gasification. Coal under pressure and high temperature, in the presence of steam and oxygen is converted to raw gas.

Condensation and subsequent cooling of gas, yields co-products such as tar and oil. Nitrogenous compounds (Ammonia), sulfur and phenolic compound are also recovered. The purified synthesis gas after cooling is made available for conversion to synthetic fuels and or chemical production. Sasol acquired the technology from Lurgi (Germany).

South African coal reserves are largely bituminous with relatively high ash content (about 45%) and low sulfur content (1%). The advantage of SASOL process is that it can process low-grade coal and a number of high value chemicals are produced along with synthetic fuels. It is understood that Sasol or similar technology can be adopted for our coal reserves.

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.

The government should also consider the utilization of indigenous coal for coal gasification, to produce high value petrochemicals, for which suitable technologies are available in the world.