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"Long term and more efficient ways to curb load shedding are to shift to solar and wind-powered electricity, he added. Maximum usage of the Thar coal can also prove to be a very efficient way to curb the energy crisis of the country, the minister added."
https://arynews.tv/there-is-zero-load-shedding-in-****stan-currently-khurrum-dastagir/

“The current government should learn from the past mistakes and explore the viability of extracting more coal from Thar to run the coal-fired power plants which will become operational in the next few years. There needs to be an effort on war-footing to convert existing imported plants to Thar coal, either through usage of blended coal, or other methods – it is estimated that this will save more than US$ 2 billion in imports for the country, while also ensuring energy security”. He concluded that Thar coal can help ****stan significantly improve its energy mix with import substitution, therefore the present and future governments should focus on connecting Thar to the rest of ****stan through the Thar Rail Link project, which is the need of the hour and on which considerable work has already been done.
https://nation.com.pk/2022/05/10/utilisation-of-indigenous-resources-could-be-game-changer-to-overcome-energy-crisis/

"The government also wants to run Thar coal based power plants to encourage more investment which will help promote the electricity generation on indigenous fuel to reduce the fuel import bill.”
https://www.thenews.com.pk/amp/956369-energy-crisis-lng-terminal-operators-set-to-ink-long-contracts

Talking up Thar coal investment again - surely with a CPEC project waiting in the wings Block VI is top priority
"Syed Murad Ali Shah added that there are maximum opportunities of investment in Thar for electricity production by using coal."
https://www.radio.gov.pk/05-05-2022/huge-potential-of-investment-in-sindh-murad

Oracle Power @OraclePowerPlc
#ORCP notes @MoWP15 tweet regarding Thar Coal – we look forward to advancing our coal to power in accordance with ****stan’s critical need for indigenous #fuel-based power.
Ministry of Energy @MoWP15
After 2018, due to scuttle in government policies, Thar coal based three 2000 MW projects were delayed. Another 1320MW from Block-VI Thar indigenous coal was never enabled to develop despite being a CPEC priority project.

Interesting report on coal in the region
"In SAARC region, most of the countries possess coal reserves and yet a large amount
of reserves is untapped. ****stan has 175 billion tonnes of untapped lignite reserves
at Thar, which presents a unique opportunity for uplifting regional economy. As of
now, only six blocks have been awarded to private companies for development.
However, there is a need to expedite the development of Thar coal by allocating more
blocks for mining and power generation purposes. ****stan should also shift its
dependence from imported coal to Thar coal reserves that can be used in various
energy recovery schemes including power generation."
https://www.saarcenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Study-to-Assess-the-Present-Situation-Gaps-in-Capacity-Technology-and-Policy-Regulatory-Instruments-in-Coal-Sector-in-SAARC-Member-States.pdf

A spate of articles over the weekend pushing Thar coal as the only solution to ****stan's energy needs. I think we can all see where this is heading...
"With indigenous gas reserves forecast to run out in a decade, Thar lignite is the only viable option for ****stan to pursue to displace imported fuels for sustainable economic revival."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1686717
"Thar coal reserves have the potential to produce over 100,000 MW of electricity for the next 30 years."
"Thar coal, thus, can provide the country with the much-needed strategic energy security and affordability required for industrial and economic revival."
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/952704-the-cheapest-fuel

He affirmed his government’s resolve to speed up high quality development of CPEC projects and make it a symbol of China-****stan friendship and close partnership.
https://www.app.com.pk/national/chinese-envoy-conveys-greetings-to-shehbaz-sharif-calls-him-chinas-committed-respected-friend/

****stan Prime Minister-elect Shehbaz Sharif announced Ramzan relief package and 10% hike in salary including pensioners. Praising China, Sharif said he will boost China–****stan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in the country.
https://www.news18.com/news/world/****stan-crisis-live-updates-news-imran-khan-shehbaz-sharif-pti-pm-livenews-4961507.html

Khan favoured provinces where his party was in control, Sindh lost out. Sindh province was overlooked in the electricity plan and they had to make a huge fuss to get Block VI and some solar and wind projects reviewed at the next meeting this year - it was the opposition that started CPEC and they will no doubt want it to accelerate and be a success now Khan's gone.

Working on ?@OraclePowerPlc? Green Hydrogen project model with our advisors Hannam & Partners, and our CTO, Dr Naveed in London today. Getting ready to become a competitive global supplier in the near future! #GreenEnergy
Progress should come quite quickly now

Experts have called for market reforms and deregularisation in the power sector to allow ****stan to kick start its economic engine.
Addressing the symposium, Khalid Mansoor, SAPM on CPEC Affairs, said that a few years ago ****stan experienced one of its worst energy crisis.
"However, after CPEC finalisation, the first objective was early-harvest projects to alleviate the power crisis, under which 17,000 MW of power generation was envisaged."
He said that in the first phase of CPEC, 5,300 MW had been installed, and under the second phase 3500 MW of alternative energy is under consideration.
He said that the long-term energy security of the country is based upon indigenous fuels, and that is the scalability of Thar.
“If Thar scalability takes place, the cost of coal per ton will reduce and that will in turn also reduce the cost of power, which is needed to make our export product competitive,” said Mansoor.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/amp/40164639

Good as always and Naheed promised much more detail in the quarterly update very soon - overall impression is they feel time is of the essence in getting this up and running and are securing offtake deals and financing as we speak.
- Extremely significant to bring in Sheikh mitigates development risk and enables us to move forward more aggressively - time is of the essence - Korea looking for 40 dedicated suppliers, Germany more reliant on hydrogen this fuel is in demand internationally
- we are securing the right technology providers and the financing and investment, Power CHina very keen to help us deploy very soon they are looking at construction, storage, transportation already looking at confirmation of offtakers and government support regular updates
https://www.**********.co.uk/articles/traders-cafe-with-zak-mir-naheed-memon-ceo-oracle-power-263ae6b

Government plans coal conversion to gas liquids fuels
Amid declining domestic gas production and expensive fuel imports, a new policy for conversion of Coal-to-Gas (LTG) and Coal-to-Liquid (CTL) with lucrative tax holidays and duty exemptions is being finalised to be made part of the upcoming federal budget 2022-23.

Informed sources said the draft Policy on Coal-to-Liquid and Coal-to-Gas was prepared by Oracle Power and China National Coal Development Co (CNCDC).

The policy, according to the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on CPEC Khalid Mansoor, is aimed initially at scaling up Thar coal production for CTG and CTL (diesel) conversion and setting up a petrochemical complex for a chain of industrial products and eventually move on to other areas for fertiliser, fuel and agriculture security.
“We have already constituted a consortium of mining and power companies – already working at Thar Coal including Shanghai Electric, Oracle Power, CNCDC — and fertiliser producers like Fauji, Fatima and Engro,” he told Dawn.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1681171

Really excited about the next few weeks - we could have a major deal signed for this hydrogen project and hopefully news on Thar progress as the Pak*stan government ramps up its domestic supply agenda - then drill results for Jundee East expected to be positive although how they know I'm not sure, and more drilling at Northern Zone should be underway - hope they target the Nickel deposits too with prices as they are. All in all progress on four fronts expected over the next two months and people can still get in at the absolute bottom what an opportunity!

Utilization of Thar coal reserves is the top priority of government: Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh
The DG Coal Authority gave a detailed briefing on the proposed plans to convert coal into gas, liquids and fertilizers at Tharparkar.
https://dailynews.com.pk/utilization-of-thar-coal-reserves-is-the-top-priority-of-government-imtiaz-ahmed-shaikh/

"it seems that CPEC coal projects are an exception to the pledges made by ****stan and China. As a result, it seems possible that another CPEC coal project that has yet to begin construction – the 1,320MW Thar Oracle power plant and mine – could also go ahead."
https://ieefa.org/ieefa-china-and-****stans-no-more-coal-power-pledges-dont-hold-up-to-scrutiny/

Naheed Memon 15/2/22, an honour meeting HE Ambassador Suh of Republic of Korea in Isd- Korea set to become a global leader in FCEVs, its Green New Deal places H as main driver of economic growth of $43bn, its utility co set to invest $37bn overseas in H by 2040.
Huge potential investors there!

Another good article by a a former member of the Energy Planning Committee
"A laudable aspect of the NEP is the provision for indigenisation of fuel. It has provided for the conversion of imported coal power plants to the local Thar coal. It may be a difficult yet totally possible task. Feasibility studies should be undertaken in this respect. Three plants on imported coal was initially a mistake; one or two would have been enough to meet the deficit in the light of installing gas plants.
There is dangerous talks on the closure of these plants under a compensation scheme. In this background, the conversion to Thar coal is a good idea. We are facing a massive current account deficit problem. Increasing exports is a long-term issue. Immediate options are available in reducing energy imports through indigenisation. Thar coal development has almost been entrusted to one company. More players should come into coal mining. ****stan has hardly any other energy resource, and its gas supply is already dwindling.
It should be emphasised on international forums that ****stan has a low carbon front and does not have many choices. India has managed to delay coal elimination targets to beyond the year 2050.What harm would a capacity of say 25,000 MW on Thar coal do in the background of more than 200,000 MW coal power plant capacities in our neighbourhood?"
Also big supporter of hydrogen
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/931659-the-national-electricity-plan-part-ii

Guys he's comparing this to Australia's biggest gold mine Boddington worth a listen!

https://www.**********.co.uk/articles/traders-cafe-with-zak-mir-ed-mead-exploration-manager-oracle-power-636c830