User:TripWire/Chamalang Coal Mines

Chamalang Coal Mines are extended over in the districts of Kohlu, Barkhan, and mostly concentrated in Loralai and expands over an area of 500 square miles. The high-quality Chamalang coal mines were first discovered in 1885 when the country was under British rule. The mines are the second largest in Asia.

A prolonged feudal clash among the Marri and Luni tribes over the the region had prevented the project to realize its actual potential since 1974. In 2006, with Pakistan Army's active facilitation, an agreement was signed by the representatives of the Luni tribe and the Government of Balochistan, with the Senator Mir Mohabbat Khan Marri representing the government. This tripartite agreement among the Marri and Luni tribes and mine contractors was signed on December 12, 2006. Excavation began in 2007 and since then, 1.5 million tons of excavated coal has generated in revenues. Deposits of 500 million tons worth estimated have been proved.

The coal mines have generated jobs for approximately 55,000 people from Balochistan, Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa and Punjab since 2007. According to another estimate, the project overall employs 73,926 people including labours, contractors and Chamalang levies.The project is the largest revenue generation venture after Saindak Copper and Chaghi marble mines.

The main villages of the region are Chamalang and Bala Dhaka. Chamalang is located about 35 mi and Bala Dhaka about 28 mi miles north of Kohlu in the Kohlu District. Pakistan Army has constructed a road from Mekhtar to Chamalang.

Chamalang coal mines contain coal ranging from high volatile 'C' bituminous to high volatile 'A' bituminous. Currently, 80 percent of Chamalang Coal is utilized by bricks makers and the remaining is consumed by cement industry which in order to reduce cost of production, blend it with imported coal. The quality of Chamalang coal is better than the rest of coal being mined from different coalfields in Balochistan.

Security
Terrorist organizations like BLA, BRA etc occasionally carryout attacks in the area. To ward of any threat to the work-force and the project, approximately 800 army personnel, 250 Frontier Corps, 450 Balochistan constabulary, 50 Kohlu Police and 2005 personnel of Chamalang Levies all from Marri tribes were employed for security of the project.