Pakistani government cancels coal mine license

Oracle Coalfields has received a shock notification from the provincial government in Sindh, Pakistan, to say its mining lease over Block VI of the Thar coalfield has been cancelled.

The Thar coalfield is the hub of Oracle’s plans to build a combined power plant in the region and it said it is taking all steps to have the notification withdrawn.

The decision of the Directorate General of the Coal Mines Department is subject to appeal and has been challenged by Oracle under Rule 71 of the Sindh Mining Concessions Rules, 2002. 

Oracle said that, in its view and in the view of its lawyers, the cancellation was without legal foundation.

The company added it remains fully committed to the development of Block VI under the terms of the Mining Lease.

Shahrukh Khan, Oracle’s CEO, said "Whilst this is an unexpected and arbitrary decision, on the basis of our substantive and detailed appeal I expect a constructive dialogue with the authorities leading to withdrawal of the notification of the cancellation of the mining lease.”

“Oracle remains fully committed to the development of our Block VI of the Thar coal project," Khan added.

In September, Oracle signed an EPC framework agreement with Chinese contractor SEPCO and is in detailed discussion on the EPC term sheets.

Edited from various sources by Sam Dodson

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/12122014/oracle-coalfields-mining-license-cancelled-1677/