KARACHI: Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) and Engro Powergen Thar Limited (EPTL) have successfully completed seven years of commercial operations at Thar Block II. Since launching on July 10, 2019, the project has played a pivotal role in reducing Pakistan’s reliance on imported fuel by promoting indigenous coal for power generation.
During these seven years of successful operations, the project supplied over 38 million tons of coal, which enabled the generation of more than 27,000 Gigawatt-hours (GWh) of affordable electricity for the national grid. The mine’s annual production capacity has now reached 7.6 million tons, and the company is currently preparing for the Phase III expansion to meet the country’s future energy demands. SECMC Chief Executive Officer Amir Iqbal and EPTL Chief Executive Officer Athar Abrar Khwaja highlighted that the project continues to strengthen Pakistan’s energy security as one of the country’s leading low-cost and reliable power producers.
Beyond energy production, the project has driven massive socio-economic development in Tharparkar through the Thar Foundation. In the education sector, over 5,000 students are currently enrolled across 33 schools, more than 300 students are pursuing engineering diploma programs, and over 2,000 individuals have received technical training. Additionally, the initiative has provided healthcare services to more than 450,000 patients and powered around 3,935 local households using clean solar energy. This seven-year journey underscores Thar Block II’s vital role in driving Pakistan toward energy self-sufficiency and improving the quality of life for the local community.
