NRL secures exploration lease in Balochistan

Islamabad:

National Resources Limited (NRL), a subsidiary of YB Pakistan Limited, Reliance Commodities (Pvt) Limited and Liberty Mills Limited, has been awarded a lease for mineral exploration in Chagai district, Balochistan. The NRL’s application for the lease, submitted in early 2022, has now been approved after all legal and procedural requirements have been completed.

The awarded area spans 500 square kilometers in the Chagai region and NRL’s ambitious project aims to attract significant investment in the mining sector, providing direct and indirect employment opportunities, particularly in Balochistan. Keeping feasibility in mind, NRL also intends to refine the mined minerals locally before exporting them.

NRL has already received No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from both the Environment and Forest and Wildlife departments, allowing the company to begin exploration activities. The company’s board has “green-lighted” an exploration plan and is currently in the process of recruiting exploration resources to begin physical operations.

An NRL spokesperson stated the company’s commitment to source its workforce locally, especially from Balochistan, while also seeking the support of a prominent foreign consultancy firm to oversee the entire exploration process. The primary responsibility of this foreign consultancy will be to train local engineers, equipping them to independently manage future exploration efforts.

Reading The black hole that is Balochistan

According to a press statement, the company expressed optimism that this award will inspire other domestic Pakistani companies to get involved in the mining sector. The mining sector has been identified as a priority sector to revitalize the national economy and the Sindh Infrastructure Development Company (SIFC) has developed a roadmap to modernize and streamline the entire mining chain, from lease applications to the provision of value-added products . “We aim to match SIFC’s vision of mining and resulting exports contributing at least 5% of the national GDP,” the statement said. The company expressed its gratitude to the Government of Balochistan and SIFC for the lease.

The company is also formulating an extensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plan to benefit local communities, the statement said. The plan includes building a model NRL complex in the area, featuring a school, playground, clinic and reverse osmosis (RO) plant.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^u2023.

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