Sindh Engro Coal Mining Co(SECMC) and Power Cement have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a trial run of Thar coal for cement production in Power Cement's plant at Nooriabad Industrial Area, Kalo Kohar District, Jamshoroo, Sindh, Pakistan. The MoU was signed by Sindh Engro Coal Mining Co CEO, Amir Iqbal, and Power Cement CEO, Kashif Habib.
Power Cement's Chief Operating Officer, Ahsan Anis, Director Export Marketing, Saifuddin Khan, and DGM International Trade, Badar Bin Anwar, were also present on this occasion. Accompanied by GM Commercial SECMC Fahim, Manager Business Development, Faisal Aziz, Manager Technical and Mine Planning, Arsalan Anwar, and Commercial Manager, Faizan Rafique.
Under the MoU, Power Cement will conduct a trial run of Thar coal for cement production in its kilns which will help the company offset its demand for imported coal. Commenting on this development, Mr Iqbal said that Thar coal could reduce the short- and long-term economic crisis gripping the country. Given the extraordinary increase in the price of coal in the international market and the foreign exchange crisis in Pakistan, the utility and economic significance of the use of Thar coal in the cement industry has increased.
He said that blending up to 20 per cent of Thar coal for the cement-making process has been carried out by other cement companies also with excellent results. “Blending of Thar coal will help cement companies to contain rising costs of their inputs as coal is an important raw material for cement production. It will also help reduce the pressure on foreign exchange reserves for importing coal for the country at large.”
Kashif Habib, CEO of Power Cement, said that due to the increase in the price of global commodities and the country’s tough economic conditions, the cement sector, like other industries, is also affected. Importing raw materials such as coal increases our cost of production, whereas utilising indigenous resources enables us to be competitive locally and internationally. He emphasised that Thar coal will be an excellent resource due to its continuous availability and economically viable cost.
According to estimates by experts, 5Mt of coal per year will be required to blend up to 20 per cent of Thar Coal in the cement industry. This will save a substantial amount of foreign exchange reserves for the country and again prove that Thar Coal is the game changer for Pakistan.
