SNGPL to set coal gasification plant in Bhakkar

ISLAMABAD: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has decided to conduct pre-feasibility study on setting up a coal gasification plant at Bhakkar and invited bids by November 1 in this regard.

Sources told Online that the SNGPL has sought proposals from reputed international consultancy firms to carry out a pre-feasibility study for establishing the coal gasification plant at Bhakkar.

He said that the pre-feasibility study had to be completed by the consultant within six months of signing a contract with the gas utility.

They said that the project covers establishing coal gasification plant, a more efficient and less costly process, at Bhakkar to produce gas.

Methanol or synthetic gas can be produced from Thar coal, which can easily be transported by the pipeline to demand centers, they said.

Sources said the plant was expected to produce three million cubic feet of gas per day, consume 800,000 tonnes of coal per day and produce around 350,000 tonnes of coke.

They said that Pakistan was rich in coal reserves and fuel gas from the coal gasification plant can find many uses in the industry and domestic sectors for heating and energy purposes.

They said the SNGPL would use coal of nearby sources for gasification as availability of gas from fields was declining with the passage of time.

They said that the gas reserves of Sui and other major fields would be exhausted in the next five to 10 years so that there is an urgent need to tap new avenues of gas availability.

They said that the government was trying to increase the share of natural gas in energy mix and making efforts for indigenous explorations and production apart from considering gas import options from Iran, Turkmenistan and Qatar.

They said that the government wanted to bridge the supply and demand gap of oil & gas and concrete steps were being taken to explore the untapped hydrocarbon resources of the country.