KARACHI, March 20 (CEN) - At 22:46，18th March, 2019, the first unit of Thar Block II 2×330MW Coal Fired Power Project constructed by China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) successfully synchronized and started pumping electricity to the national grid. The injection of the electrons produced for the very first time from Thar coal – regarded as the 7th largest coal reserve in the world with 175 billion tons of lignite coal – has redefined Pakistan’s energy landscape and secured the country’s energy future on an indigenous, native footing which will eventually terminate Pakistan’s dependence on foreign fuel mix.

 As one of the early harvest projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the first power project which utilizes domestic coal has drawn wide attention since its commencement in April 2016. It is estimated that both units with total output of 660MW will be put into commercial operation in June, 2019 and generate 4.5 billion KWh electricity annually that will furnish 2 million families with cheaper tariff and significantly ease power shortage situation in Pakistan. Moreover,  the mining and power projects together are expected to rack up a total of $1.6 billion in foreign exchange savings a year since power will be produced using indigenous coal.