The Thar Coal Block-II project will start electricity production by June 2019, as more than 50 per cent work on its coal-based power plant has been completed, Radio Pakistan reported.

The work on power plant having a capacity of 1,320 megawatts was underway in full swing, the report quoted a company’s representative as saying.

The power projects which are being completed as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project will be helpful in meeting the energy needs of the country.

Boilers under construction at power plant site.

The project is also said to benefit the Thar and its people on a large scale and is expected to change the face of the area and develop it into a prosperous region.

Thar Coal Block-II project was one of the largest energy schemes of Pakistan with a promised investment of $2 billion.

The company is setting up mine-mouth power plants of 330 megawatts each at Thar Coal Block-II, which will fully capable of running 100 per cent on Thar coal.

It would be mining 7.6 million tonnes per annum of coal from the open-pit mine which will reduce the coal tariff substantially.

Digging underway at open-pit mine in Thar Coal Block-II.

The company would be mining 7.6 million tonnes per annum of coal.

The company is setting up mine-mouth power plants of 330 megawatts each.

— Photos by Tauseef Razi Mallick.