Pakistan to hold crucial meeting over coal power plants
Monday, 12 Jan 2009
The Dawn reported that the Sindh Coal Energy Board, headed by Mr Qaim Ali Shah, chief minister of the province is holding its crucial meeting on January 13th 2009 to consider three investment proposals for coal mining and setting up of coal fired electric power generation plants.
As per report, well placed sources revealed that investment proposals were being processed and scrutinized by a 4 member committee, headed by Mr Asad Ali Shah, and have been recommended for a further follow up consideration.
The board had received 6 investment proposals, and 3 were apparently discarded after each of the 3 sponsors was unable to find a suitable technical partner.
Sources in the Sindh government are not certain as to how many of 4 federal government nominees on the board will turn up on the meeting. The 4 members are deputy chairman of planning commission, federal law minister and federal minister of power and natural resources and federal secretary of power and natural resources.
The meeting of the board has been convened after media reports that the Punjab government is moving swiftly to attract foreign and local investors for setting up coal fired electric generation projects.
In another development, a 4 member World Bank mission reached Karachi on for a two week visit to assist the government in technical evaluation of investment proposals.
Also on January 15th 2009, the Sindh government is organizing an international seminar on investment opportunities in Sindh minerals. One full session will be devoted to coal reserves in the province.
