ISLAMABAD: The gas produced from Thar coal would be cheaper than the imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) and could help reduce the price of fuel and electricity for residential and commercial users, according to a new report.

Currently, the coal mined from Thar is being used to produce electricity and not gas. However, laboratory tests have shown that the mineral is suitable for gasification and can be used in industries such as fertilisers, steel and liquid fuels.

The new study, conducted by a group of energy experts led by Dr Farid Malik, will be submitted to the Sindh government.

Dr Malik, an energy and technology management expert who is currently an adviser to the Sindh government, told Dawn that the evaluations and laboratory tests conducted by Nelson Mandela University, South Africa, found that Thar coal was suitable for gasification. He estimated that the Thar coal gasification could reduce gas prices in Pakistan by 30 to 60 per cent.

Experiments find local minerals suitable for gasification: new study

The price of imported LNG fluctuated between $14 and $20 per mmBtu, he said, adding that the gas produced from Thar coal was estimated at around $7-8.

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The test results show that Thar coal has an ash content of around 18pc and an ash flow temperature range of around 1,325°C, which makes it suitable for gasification.

The carbon reactivity is also high, which is typical of lignite coal. The expected pure gas yield is between 1,550-1,600 cubic metres per tonne, Dr Malik explained while referring to the new study.

In response to a question about a similar experiment in the past, Dr Malik said the underground coal gasification experiment carried out under the supervision of Dr Samar Mubarakmand a few years ago was not viable as the required technology was not commercially available. However, the technology for gasification of coal after its mining is not only being used in many countries, but it is also widely available, Dr Malik added.

Countries like Germany were now moving towards hydrogen energy from coal gasification, he told Dawn, adding that this has also made coal gasifiers cheaper.

The process for Thar coal gasification can take off at a cost of about $5-10 million, Dr Malik estimated.

Cheaper energy

Dr Malik highlighted that in Pakistan, the seasonal variations make renewables an unreliable source for a continuous and steady electricity supply.

Pakistan produces around 2,640 megawatts of affordable electricity from the coalfields in Block I and Block II in Tharparkar. This is 10pc of the country’s power needs and at Rs4.4 per kilowatt-hour, costs much lower than the electricity produced from other sources.

Since its inception, Thar coal project has helped save around $1.7bn in foreign exchange, Dr Malik said.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2024