Coal: A Potential Alternate to Oil and Gas

Byline: SHAMSUL GHANI The capital cost outlay, besides an economy's resource base, is usually the guiding factor when it comes to choosing from a number of available energy options. A recent article by Dr. Samar Mubarakmand makes a revealing comparison of per KWH capital investment required for various energy generation options. Hydro, solar and wind energy options carry a capital cost of around $2.5 per KWH. This somewhat high capital cost compensates in the shape of a low generation cost and higher plant lives. Energy generation based on natural gas carries a low capital cost of $1 per KWH and also a low generation cost of Rs.3- 5 per KWH.