HYDERABAD: The eminent geoscientists of Pakistan while emphasizing the need of adopting speedy measures for early utilization of indigenous resource of Thar coal said that with establishment of coal power plants would help in overcoming of energy crises as well as boot the economy of the country. They (geoscientists) were addressing the participants of national seminar on Coal of Sindh-Endeavors for power Pakistan” organized by National Centre for Pure and Applied Geology, University of Sindh at Jamshoro on Saturday.

The conference, which presided over by the Vice Chancellor University of Sindh Jamshoro Prof. Dr. Nazir A. Mughal was organized in joint collaboration of Weatherford Oil Tools M.E. and Pakistan Petroleum Limited. The geoscientists expressed their concerned over delay in utilization of Thar coal reservoirs called upon the policymakers to prepare effective plans for meeting out the energy crisis and Thar coal is the best source for producing electricity to cater the need of the country.

In his presidential remarks, Prof. Dr. Nazir A. Mughal said that the energy crisis in Pakistan has reached at an alarming stage causing great disruption in industrial growth and economic development in the country. Referring to the data, he said it is surprising that 90 per cent coal lying in province of Sindh which can cater the need of the energy of the country for the years, if such huge reservoirs could be utilized properly.

While appreciating the efforts for holding national seminar by the Center for Pure and Applied Geology on Thar Coal, he said that energy production through imported furnace oil has brought out economy to a critical stage adding that the situation demands all out efforts to exploit and utilize indigenous resources.

Dr. Mughal said coal is claimed to be part of our energy mix but in spite of discovery of huge coal deposits of Thar, our progress in utilizing this recourse has been unfortunately almost nil. There is now some hope that its utilization will be initiated with coal gasification process going operational next month. Dr. Mughal said adding that Memorandum of Understanding have also been singed with Chinese and British mining concerns for exploitation of Thar coal and power generation is expected to start by the mid of 2012.

The Vice Chancellor pointed out that such university-industry liaison is imperative for promotion of research and added that virtually all universities in the developed and developing countries world owe their research contribution that could lead to industrial innovative research and economic advancement to the University-Industry liaison and collaborative efforts.

The Universities in Pakistan have been unfortunately lagged behind in this regard relying totally on government funding, Dr. Mughal said and added that due to financial crises we have reached an impasse. Dr. Mughal emphasized the need that Universities have now to develop liaison with industry to promote research and generate funds through the collaborative efforts. He said that efforts of the Center for Pure and Applied Geology in developing liaison with oil industry are commendable.

Eminent geoscientist and Secretary General of Association of Asian Academies of Science Dr. Muhammad Qasim Jan who was chief guest said that Pakistan is passing sever energy crises and added that Thar coal is only indigenous source to over come the energy crises. Dr. Jan also highlighted facts and figures of Sindh Coal Authority and added that we are not taking advantage of available source of coal which can be major source for the energy.

He said that many countries in the world have reserved 90 percentage share of coal for producing electricity adding that Pakistan could get benefit for 100 years if Thar coal fully exploited with speedy efforts and adopting latest technology.

He said that with exploiting Thar coal energy on cheaper rates will be available and it will help to slowdown the migration of rural to urban. In his key note speech the Director General Geological Survey of Pakistan Dr. Imran Ahmed Khan said that energy is life line of modern civilization adding that it is mostly politicized at global stage.

He said that a major challenge to the world stability and development foundation of energy security is diversification. He pointed out that energy supply is a big problem in the country due to rise in demand and supply and added that by 2030 there will be a high gap in demand and supply of energy. He said that indigenous source coal is a big hope and added that we must rely on indigenous source and we have no option on use of indigenous source coal.