THAR LIGNITE ITS EXPLOITATION AND USE BY DR LARRY THOMAS DARGO ASSOCIATES LTD
Jan 12, 2016
THAR LIGNITEITS EXPLOITATION AND USE
BYDR LARRY THOMAS
DARGO ASSOCIATES LTD
Thar Coalfield
• Distance from Karachi 380km
• Thar Coalfield Area 9,100 km2
• Total Lignite Resources 175x109
• Lignite Quality: Lignite ‘A’ to ‘B’
• Close proximity to Road & Power network
General Geology of Thar Area
• Thar area covered by dune sand
• Lignite seams are of Tertiary age
• Simple geological structure
• Main Coal Seam well developed
• Overlying strata made up of sandstone and mudstone
Opencast Mining
• Proven efficient mining method worldwide eg Europe, Australia, South Africa and USA
• Cheaper capital cost than underground mining technology
• Faster mine development• Flexibility in changes of mine size
Truck & Shovel Operation
Thar Opencast Mining
• Opencast Coal (Lignite) Mine• To access Main Lignite Seam 9-30m in
thickness• Overburden Thickness 160m• Preferred Mining Method is Truck & Shovel• Planned production 5 Mtpa
Global Lignite QualitiesCountry Moisture %
(ar)Ash %
(ar)Volatile
Matter %(ar)
Sulphur %(ar)
Calorific Value
kcal/kg (gar)
Australia 65.5 0.6 17.6 0.1 2135
Bosnia 51 2.0 30.3 0.05 2749
Germany 55 10 19.2 0.2 1900
Greece 52 15.1 18.8 0.2 1220
India 48 6.1 25.6 0.6 2885
Kosovo 51 15 20.8 <1.0 2008
Pakistan (Thar)
42 7.0 28.0 0.7 2900-3200
Poland 52.8 9.8 20.0 0.6 2140
Serbia 45.5 17.0 22.5 0.49 2151
Thailand 30-35 10-28 32 0.8-1.5 2500-3000
Turkey 50 16 22.8 1.7 1130
LIGNITE USES
• Fuel for Electricity Generation• Fuel for Cement Industry
– Drying and Briquetting/Pelletising to produce 15% moisture product
• For Industrial Use:– Lignite has high volatile matter easier to convert to
gas and liquid petroleum products– Briquetting for domestic fuel together with
production of charcoal and gas for smokeless fuel– Horticulture as replacement for peat
Lignite Drying
Republic of Serbia
• Lignite Production: 36.5 Mtpa• Lignite Use:
– Thermal Power Plants 34.3 Mtpa– Drying Plants 1.1 Mtpa– Heating Plants 0.2 Mtpa– Other Industry 0.9 Mtpa
Project Summary• Block VI Licence area has thick coal & adequate resources• Licence area suitable for mine & power plant
development• Licence area close to road and power network linking
Karachi & Hyderabad• Opencast mining cheapest and most efficient mining
method• Ability to supply lignite to thermal power plants within
Sindh Province• Ability to supply dried lignite to cement manufacturers
and other industrial users