Thar Block 2 has become cornerstone in energy security of Pakistan: Umar Rehman Malik

Abdullah Jan

Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Umar Rehman Malik said this week that Thar Block 2 has become a cornerstone in the energy security of Pakistan.

“A great project by the government of Sindh which was developed under Public Private Partnership. Sindh’s PPP unit was highlighted as 6th on models of best practice in Asia by the @TheEconomist even ranking above many other countries. Thar Block 2 has become a cornerstone in the energy security of Pakistan,” he posted on X.

He said the Thar Coal Block 2 was a testament to the power of public-private partnerships, with 17,000 jobs created for the local community.

“It exemplifies success through investment in the local communities, women’s empowerment, economic growth, and opportunities for all. The use of indigenous resources is imperative for Pakistans energy security, a policy that guided the PPP in developing the Thar Coal Project,” he added.

The power plants at Engro Thar Block II, developed within the framework of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), serves as more than just coal-fired stations utilizing indigenous resources to generate power for the country.

In fact, the development of Thar Block II has resulted in the creation of over 17,000 employment opportunities for the local community.

Khushhal Thar, an initiative by the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC), has played a pivotal role in providing the local community access to employment across various projects in Block II.

The 660MW Engro Thar Coal Power Project, China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), was completed in 2019 and is currently operational.

The 330MW HUBCO Thar Coal Power Project (Thar Energy) is another coal-fired station at Thar Block II executed and sponsored by HUBCO, FFC, and CMEC. The project, completed on September 30, 2023, is currently operational.