SC orders probe into 'failure' of Thar Coal Gasification Project

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court has constituted a probe to look into the failure of Thar Coal Gasification Project.

A three-judge bench of Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar heard the case and summoned report of the probe committee within three weeks.

Chairman Thar Coal Gasification project Dr. Samar Mubarakmand informed the bench that this project have an estimated capacity to generate 100 megawatts of electricity, with Rs. 8.8 billion estimated costs.

The government provided Rs 900mn for the project in Year 2012-13, Rs. one billion in 2013-14 and 1151mn in 2014-15 for the power project that is presently generating eight megawatt electricity, Dr. Mubarakmand told the bench.

“Mr. Samar Muabakmand the project has been an utter failure with loss of the public money,” a judge of the bench remarked. “Where is the electricity generated in the project, the Chief Justice asked.

The bench queried, why the project producing just eight megawatts of electricity despite Rs 3.4 billion spending on it.

Dr. Mubarakman said that the project was not failed but the funds not provided for the project, even watchmen and other employees were not paid wages, he said.

The bench formed a committee to look into the failure of the coal gasification project with the observation that the probe body will comprise of the energy experts and scientists. The court also named Salman Akram Raja and Shahzad Illahi to assist the court.

The court took notice of the non-payment of wages to the workers of the project and adjourned hearing of the case for one week.