The Phase-III expansion of the Thar Block-II coal mine in Sindh’s Tharparkar district was officially inaugurated on Monday, boosting its annual production capacity from 7.6 million tonnes to 11.2 million tonnes and strengthening the nation’s utilization of domestic coal resources for cost-effective electricity generation.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari presided over the inauguration ceremony at Thar Coal Block-II, which also featured the unveiling of Pakistan’s inaugural coal drying facility.
Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) commenced operations at Thar Block-II in 2019 with an initial annual mining capacity of 3.8 million tonnes (MTPA). The second phase, completed in 2022, expanded capacity to 7.6 MTPA. The third phase will add another 3.6 million tonnes annually, representing the mine’s third major expansion within seven years.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari commended SECMC’s accomplishment, noting that the Thar mine now ranks among the world’s top four percent of mining operations.
At the ceremony held at Thar Coal Block-II, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah acknowledged the contributions of Thar’s residents, workforce, technical personnel, and all involved parties who enabled the project’s successful implementation.
The chief minister expressed gratitude to Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for his visit and continued backing of initiatives that have revitalized the region’s economic prospects.
Syed Murad Ali Shah characterized the event as a significant milestone in a legacy initiated in 1996 when Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto inaugurated the foundation stone for a 2,640-megawatt coal-powered electricity facility in Thar.
He emphasized the symbolic importance of the occasion, highlighting that the original foundation stone was laid during the administration of former Sindh Chief Minister Syed Abdullah Shah, the current chief minister’s father. The present inauguration is being conducted by Benazir Bhutto’s son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, with Murad Ali Shah serving as Sindh’s chief minister.
“This project represents the fulfilment of a vision passed from one generation to another,” he said. “Benazir Bhutto dreamed of solving Pakistan’s energy crisis while uplifting the people of Thar. Today, that vision is becoming a reality.”
Murad Shah said the project suffered years of neglect after the dismissal of Benazir Bhutto’s government, delaying benefits that could have significantly strengthened Pakistan’s energy sector.
He added that when the PPP returned to power in 2008, President Asif Ali Zardari revived the project and pushed forward its implementation despite numerous challenges.
The chief minister recalled that there were times when the project faced uncertainty and lacked support at the federal level. However, through determination and a partnership between the government of Sindh and private investors, the project moved forward.
He said former President Asif Ali Zardari and then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif jointly encouraged the development of the project during a critical phase in 2014.
“We always said that if Thar changes, Pakistan will change. Today we can proudly say that we have delivered on that promise,” he remarked.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the occasion, SECMC Chief Executive Officer Amir Iqbal said, “Thar’s story is a journey from the impossible to excellence, achieved through vision, collaboration and resilience.”
He said Thar was contributing not only to Pakistan’s energy security but also to the country’s economic growth.
“Thar stands as a testament to the power of public-private partnership and proof that we can achieve what once seemed impossible. As we continue to energize Pakistan, our ambition is to build SECMC into a world-class, sustainable mining company.”