PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH

ENERGY DEPARTMENT

LIST OF STARRED ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR

WEDNESDAY, THE 29^TH JANUARY, 2025    

 

188      *Mr. Abdul Basit:

Will the Minister for Energy be pleased to State:-

 

Any violations/hazards found by Inspectorate of Coal Mines at mining sites in Province during 2018 to 2023?

ANSWER

 

SYED NASIR HUSSAIN SHAH, MINISTER FOR ENERGY:-

 

Underground mining is one of the most hazardous types of mining due to the confined spaces, unstable geological conditions. Miners must work in cramped quarters. Major mine hazards include roof falls, Fallen stone from vertical shaft, Fallen down from shaft, Noxious gas.

In the year-2022, an incident occurred at Jhimpir Coal filed District Thatta, wherein (09) coal mine workers were drowned during working in rain water in the mine and expired.

 

The fatal accidents were reported in the Coalfield at Lakhra, District Jamshoro, Meting/ Jhimpir  DistrictThatta& Thar Coalfield at IslamkotTharparkar in each year;

 

2018=         (11)

2019=         (09)

2020=         (11)

2021=         (07)

2022=         (15)

2023=         (17) 

 

Approximately 563 violations were found in different coal mines during inspections conducted by the Inspectors of Coal Mines Sindh. In this regard, the notices were issued for rectification. In case of accidents occurred or any danger has been observed at the coal mines, the Inspector of Coal Mines immediately discontinued mining operation & imposed Rule-61(3) of Sindh Coal Mines Rules, 2016 in the interest of safety of workers working in the coal mines and the prosecutions lodged against defaulters in the concerned courts.

 

401      *Mr. Muhammad Daniyal:

Will the Minister for Energy be pleased to State:-

 

(a)   Whether it is a fact that efforts are being taken by the provincial government to enhance energy production and distribution reliability in urban areas of the province especially in Hyderabad and Karachi;

(b)  If answer to (a) above be in the affirmative, details thereof?

 

ANSWER

 

SYED NASIR HUSSAIN SHAH, MINISTER FOR ENERGY:-

 

K-Electric and HESCO are Federal entities working under Ministry of Energy (Power Division), GoP Islamabad and governed by NEPRA Rules.

 

The Energy Department GoS has established / initiated following energy projects to enhance the energy production in Sindh.

 

1. Solar Power Generation

 

1. In urban areas of Karachi 38 public sector hospitals in District HQs have been solarized, 19 are in process and more than 250 education, hospitals, orphanage and welfare offices are to be solarized.

 

2. Two solar parks have been established in Karachi District Malir and West (1200 acres land).

 

3. 46655 Solar Home System of urban areas’ peoples registered with BISP are to distributed.

 

4. 5 Lacs houses will be solarized in CFY-2024-25.

 

5. 4 MW Floating Solar Panels to be installed at WASA water pumping station at Hyderabad

 

6. Waste to Energy Power project 25x2=50 MW Karachi in process.

 

7. 5 Solar projects with capacity 50 MW each 2 projects established in Karachi and 3 in Sukkur

 

2   Power Generation from Thar Coal

 

Thar coalfield Block-I

 

1. TCB-1 has installed 1320 MW

 

Thar Block-II (1320 MW)

 

2. Engro Power Thar Ltd 2x330 MW
3. Thar Energy Ltd 1x330 MW
4. ThalNova Power Thar Ltd 1x330 MW

 

1. Lucky Electric Power at Port Qasim 2x330 MW (Consuming imported coal but to be shifted to Thar coal on its availability)

 

3   Power Generation from Wind

 

36 projects of average 50 MW per project, total 1845 MW installed in wind corridor.

431      *Mr. Muhammad Daniyal:

Will the Minister for Energy be pleased to State:-

 

Number of underground coal gasification projects ongoing along with the names of companies and terms of agreement made thereof as of January 31, 2024?

 

ANSWER

 

SYED NASIR HUSSAIN SHAH, MINISTER FOR ENERGY:-

 

There is no such underground coal gasification project underway right now therefore the subject information may be treated as “NIL”.

 

501      *Engineer AdilAskari:

Will the Minister for Energy be pleased to State:-

 

What steps are being taken to promote renewable energy sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the province?

ANSWER

SYED NASIR HUSSAIN SHAH, MINISTER FOR ENERGY:-

Energy Department, Government of Sindh has taken various steps to promote the renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emission in the province which are mentioned below:

• 35-Wind Project (IPPs) are injecting/contributing 1835 MW to the National Grid.
•  5-Solar Project (IPPs) with capacity of 250 MW and injecting/contributing 150 MW to National Grid and 100 MW to KE.
• 26-Wind and 19-Solar Project (IPPs) with cumulative capacity of 3,025 MW are waiting for Competitive bidding by Federal Government.
• A number of projects through private investments under Business to Business (B2B) has been initiated in line with “Renewable Energy Policy 2019”.
• 225- Health facilities in 13 districts of Sindh have been solarized.
• 11-Government Schools in Larkana district have been solarized.
• Further, 656- Government Schools with cumulative capacity of 6534.70 KW in 10 districts are being solarized during CFY.
•  225-Health Facilities with cumulative capacity of 1250.10 KW in 9 districts are being solarized during CFY.
•  6-Prisons with capacity of 830.50KW in 4 districts are being solarized during CFY.
• 15-Water Pumping Stations with capacity of 853.80 KW in Tharparkar district are being solarized.
• Also, 22-Accounts offices, Finance Department will be solarized through ADP 2024-25.
• Colleges of Hyderabad region will be solarized through ADP 2024-25

 

 

• Health Facilities in districts Tharparkar and Sukkur will be solarized through ADP 2024-25.
• Feasibility Study (FS) for biogas plant is under process, subsequent to this FS scheme for installation of biogas plants for the use of small households will be initiated.
• It is further informed that 2-LoIs are issued for Waste to Energy Project in Karachi under “Sindh Waste to Energy Policy 2021”. One (1) Waste to Energy Project will generate electricity from the waste while other will produce gas from Municipal Solid Waste.
• Additionally, Energy Department is preparing a mega project to provide Solar Home Systems to the poorest community of the province in line with the vision of Government of Sindh.

All above mentioned projects are initiated to promote Renewable Energy in the province.

 

570      *Dr. Fouzia Hameed:  

Will the Minister for Energy be pleased to State:-

           

What are the current energy demand and consumption pattern in Sindh and how is the Ministry is planning to meet these demands?

 

ANSWER

SYED NASIR HUSSAIN SHAH, MINISTER FOR ENERGY:-

 

The matter pertains to Federal Ministry of Energy. However, the current Energy demand and consumption in HESCO, SEPCO and K-Electric as provided by DISCOs are as under:

 

DISCOs	Demand	Consumption	Shortfall
HESCO	1164	787	377
SEPCO	1472	1056	416
K-E	2112	1861	251
Total:	4748	3704	1044

 

 

The Energy Department GoS has established / initiated following energy projects to enhance the energy production in Sindh.

 

1. Solar Power Generation

 

1. 304 MW

2. Power Generation from Thar Coal Block-I & II

 

1.  1320 MW (Block-I)

ii1320 MW (Block-II)

iii.      2x330=660 Lucky Electric Power at Port Qasim(Consuming imported coal but to be shifted to Thar coal on its availability)

 

3. Wind Power Generation

 

1. 1845 MW

 

 

571      *Dr. Fouzia Hameed:  

Will the Minister for Energy be pleased to State:-

 

            Can you provide updates on progress of renewable energy projects such as wind and solar energy alongwith steps taken to ensure a reliable and sustainable Energy supply in the province?

ANSWER

SYED NASIR HUSSAIN SHAH, MINISTER FOR ENERGY:-

 

Energy Department, Government of Sindh has taken various steps to promote the renewable energy and status of projects progress are mentioned below:

• 35-Wind Project (IPPs) are injecting/contributing 1835 MW to the National Grid.
•  5-Solar Project (IPPs) with capacity of 250 MW and injecting/contributing 150 MW to National Grid and 100 MW to KE.
• 26-Wind and 19-Solar Project (IPPs) with cumulative capacity of 3,025 MW are waiting for Competitive bidding by Federal Government.
• A number of projects through private investments under Business to Business (B2B) has been initiated in line with “Renewable Energy Policy 2019”.
• Feasibility Study (FS) for biogas plant is under process, subsequent to this FS scheme for installation of biogas plants for the use of small households will be initiated.
• It is further informed that 2-LoIs are issued for Waste to Energy Project in Karachi under “Sindh Waste to Energy Policy 2021”. One (1) Waste to Energy Project will generate electricity from the waste while other will produce gas from Municipal Solid Waste.

Additionally, Energy Department is preparing a mega project to provide Solar Home Systems to the poorest community of the province in line with the vision of Government of Sindh.

 

695      *Mr. ArsalanPerwaiz:  

Will the Minister for Energy be pleased to State:-

 

How many Energy projects ofWind and solar started by the government during fiscal year 2018-19 to 2022-23 along with location in Sindh?

ANSWER

SYED NASIR HUSSAIN SHAH, MINISTER FOR ENERGY:-

 

Energy Department Government of Sindh has issued letter of Intent (LOI) to the following Sponsor Companies for Development of Wind and Solar Power Projects during year 2018-19 to 2022-23.

 

• Go Energy Pvt. Ltd 500 MW Floating Solar P.V Power Project  atKeenjhar Lake District Thatta.
• Engro Energy Pvt. Ltd. B2B 400 MW Wind/Solar Hybrid Power Project at Jhimpir, District Thatta.
• Sapphire Green Energy Pvt. Ltd. 250 MW Wind/Solar Hybrid Power Project at Jhimpir, District Thatta.

 

All these projects are in Feasibility study stage.

827      *Mr. Muhammad Shabbir Qureshi:         

Will the Minister for Energy be pleased to State:-

 

1. Is it fact that no commercial coal has been produced from the Thar Coal blocks till      

to-date;

2. If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the reasons thereof?

 

ANSWER

SYED NASIR HUSSAIN SHAH, MINISTER FOR ENERGY:-

 

It is informed that there are two operational open pit mines at Thar coalfield, one is at Block-1 operated by M/s. Sino Sindh Resources (Pvt.) Limited and another at Block-2 operated by M/s. Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company.

It is added that the Blcok-1 (M/s. SSRL), has been producing commercial coal to the extent of 7.8 Mtpa from open-pit lignite mine since Feb., 2023 for 2x660MW mine mouth power plants with total generation of1320 MW. Likewise, Block-2 (SECMC) has the distinction to produce commercial coal since 2019 to the extent 7.6 Mtpa from open-pit lignite mine for4x330 MW mine mouth power plants with total generation of 1320 MW.

It is evident that the total of 2,640 MW is being generated by utilizing the indigenous coal which is playing important role in covering power supply.