Supreme Court of Pakistan has banned the unloading of coal at the Karachi port, on the grounds of environmental pollution and personal health.
Taking strict action against how the coal offloading at the Karachi port was contributing to environment pollution and degrading personal health in the city, the court has ordered to shift coal offloading and handling from Karachi Port to Port Qasim and directed to make necessary arrangements within six weeks.
From Aug’18, Pakistan’s coal import are expected to be diverted towards Port Qasim, where the country’s first and only common user coal, clinker and cement terminal, Pakistan International Bulk Terminal (PIBT) has been developed.
PIBT has a rated capacity for handling up to 12 MnT coal annually, which also facilitates a pollution free environment at the port with installed water sprinkling system and wind fence to minimise dust emission.
According to the vessel line-up data compiled by CoalMint Research, Pakistan’s coal import in CY18 (till May’18) had reached 5,683,941 MT. Out of the total quantity, nearly 38% of the imports were discharged at Karachi port, while the remaining share of imports were taken at port Qasim.
Coal imports have been rising sharply over the last few years with the demand coming from power utilities as well as the country’s fast-growing cement industry.
During May’18, Pakistan’s coal import had increased 20% M-o-M to 1,295,896 MT compared with 1,080,687 MT in Apr’18.
Monthly import from its major coal supplier, South Africa, was down 17% M-o-M to 761,874 MT in May’18, whereas import from Indonesian and Mozambique had witnessed significant growth during the month. Pakistan had also received its first coal shipment from the UAE for the CY18, by importing 111,000 MT coal in May’18.
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