As the block VI of Thar coal has huge potential to produce gas, urea/fertilizer and liquid fuel (diesel), owing to this reason Thar block VI had been included in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Sindh government had intended to initiate Thar Coal Block-VI as a national strategic project under the CPEC to develop coal mine, set up a 1,320 MW coal-fired power project, produce gas, urea and diesel as Thor Coal had estimated total coal reserves of 1.4 billion tons.
In the 9th joint coordination committee (JCC) meeting, Naheed Memon, Chief Executive Officer of UK-based Company Oracle and Sindh Minister for Energy Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh has agreed the concept to include Thar Block VI for coal gasification to fertilizer projects under CPEC and desired to undertake a feasibility study for evaluation. In the meeting it was supported that with the active support of the Government of Sindh under the joint development agreement (JDA) intended to develop Thar block VI as a National strategic asset for Pakistan beyond power generation. With this adequate expansion of a coal mine, the production of urea could be pioneered through cheaper surface gasification and liquids, including diesel at almost one third of the existing price. Block VI is located in the center of the coalfield and covers an area of 66.1 square kilometers. This site has been extensively drilled and coal samples recovered and tested to international standards.
