The Thar Desert could hold the key to Pakistan's energy...

The Thar Desert could hold the key to Pakistan's energy requirements, with 175 billion metric tons of coal reserves, enough to fulfill the country's power needs for the next century if the government can get itself lined out.


UCG & Thar
Pakistan is also looking to initiate Underground Coal Gasification projects at Thar. Last week, Shah said the UCG project in Thar is the first experiment in Pakistan to produce 50 MW of electricity. "The world is watching the program which will help meet power needs," Shah said.

The first stage of the UCG plant was scheduled to be operational March this year, but has been postponed to May 15 as the earthquake in Japan derailed plans to import compressors.

According to Dr. Samar Mubarakmand, a scientist, head of the Thar coal gasification project, "UCG is the most important clean coal technology of the future."

Foreign interests in Pakistan's UCG projects include Cougar Energy, an emerging gas producer with projects in Australia, Pakistan and India. Cougar is evaluating multiple coal fields in Thar.