By Ayesha Saba

ISLAMABAD, Aug 17, (INP-WealthPK): The manufacturing of heavy mining machinery locally by a Chinese firm will increase coal excavation in the country and greatly boost the sector, WealthPK reports.

China Machinery Engineering Corp (CMEC) has begun manufacturing heavy mining equipment in Pakistan for the first time to increase coal excavation operations at the Thar Coal Block-II project.

CMEC completed the installation of a massive coal crushing plant in Thar Block-II. According to an official of CMEC, the engineering company is investing in different sectors in the country to further strengthen bilateral relations between Pakistan and China. It is the second largest shareholder in Pakistan’s first open-pit lignite mine and 660 megawatts integrated mine-mouth power plant in Thar Block-II, being built under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The plant has a capacity to crush 2,500 tonnes of coal rocks per hour into 350-millimetre stones for ready use by power plants. The manufacturing of heavy machinery locally will enable CMEC to enhance its coal mining and crushing capacity and provide coal for 1,320 megawatts power plants in addition to its own 660 megawatts power plant, which is already operational.

CMEC is also trying to train local people as mechanical operators, truck drivers and technicians. So far, the firm has provided more than 1,000 jobs for the local people. In addition, CMEC has purchased buses to be used as mobile hospitals and decided to provide free civil engineering support to local health facilities.

An official of the Planning Ministry told WealthPK that China has shown great interest in building a robust partnership with Pakistan through CPEC.

He acknowledged that currently, the mining sector in Pakistan was short of modern technology. “Due to poor work organisation, the tools and facilities are often inadequate. There is a key issue related to the proper design of the mine and the site's dimensions. Due to the intrinsic characteristics of surface mines, most of the accidents happen due to falling rocks, transportation and explosives,” he added.

The official, who wished not to be named, said that the use of technology would improve the productivity of the mining sector and ensure the safety of miners and other workers. He said that it would create investment opportunities, leading to more research and the adoption of scientific methods.

“At present, the level of technical knowledge of workers is very low. It is necessary to impart skills and training to workers for properly managing the industry,” he said. He suggested that awareness programmes should be initiated to train workers. “Short courses should be introduced in vocational training institutes and training certificate should be a must for working in the mining sector,” the official told WealthPK

Thar Block-II lignite mining and coal fire power project is underway in Tharparkar district of Sindh province. The coal mine covers an area of 9,000 square kilometres with about 175 billion tonnes of coal reserves. It is the largest coal mine in Pakistan, the largest lignite mine in Asia and the seventh largest coal mine in the world.

Creit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk