Properties

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PROPERTIES: State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan.

The company recently announced the acquisition of thermal coal properties in Pakistan in the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan through it's subsidiary, AJK Mining Company (PVT.) Ltd., to hold Cooper's option to acquire a 100-per-cent interest in a 2,230-acre thermal coal property and an application for an additional 200 square kilometres within the Kotli coal district, state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K), Pakistan.

Property Manager

Cooper Minerals has hired Mr. Muhammad Khalid Pervaiz, a Pakistan resident, as managing director of its subsidiary. Mr. Pervaiz graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in mining engineering from Lahore University, Pakistan. In 1983, he obtained a Master of Science degree in mining engineering from the same university. In 1989, he earned a M.B.A. from Technical International University Messuri – USA, Labore Campus.

Mr. Pervaiz is the current President of The Institute of Mining Engineers in Pakistan and is one of the leading experts in the mining and mineral sector. He is also Chief Executive Geo of Minerals Khokhar Bala Coal Mines, Director of MINTECH-Coal Mines, Director of Katha Digwell Coal Mines, Chairman of the Pakistan Mine Association and a mining consultant to various multinational and local organizations.

Mr. Pervaiz holds the honourable distinction of the Khawaja Farid Award for outstanding achievements in mining. He was awarded the National Gold Medal by the Institute of Mining Engineers, Pakistan in 1985. He has achieved several others awards throughout his career.

Technical Team

Cooper Minerals has received confirmation that a state government industrial development corporation will provide full technical support to its Pakistani coal projects. This unequaled support will be provided by the chief geologist and all of his team.

The technical support will be provided by Azad Kashmir Mineral & Industrial Development Corporation (AKMIDC) which was established in 1971, through an Act of AJ&K Legislative Assembly, by the Government of AJ&K. The Corporation was assigned with following broad functions:

Create conducive environments for industrialization in AJ&K by commissioning viable industrial projects, aimed at enticing private sector to invest in the industrial sector.
To harness mineral endowments of the State, by developing geological infrastructure, to identify exploration targets for commercial exploitation.

The project is presently being assessed for the potential of near-term coal production. There are local markets for coal production in the area including a cement plant. Pakistan ranks seventh among the top 20 countries of the world so far as coal resources are concerned. Pakistan's coal reserves are 97-per-cent lignite rank, and vast deposits of these occur in the AJK and Thar areas.

World Coal Mining

over 5990 million tonnes (Mt) of hard coal is currently produced worldwide and 913Mt of brown coal/lignite: the top five hard coal producers are China, the USA, India, Australia and Indonesia.
most global coal production is used in the country in which it was produced: around 16% of hard coal production is destined for the international coal markets.
coal is the largest source of energy for the generation of electricity worldwide.

Coal in Pakistan

Pakistan ranks seventh amongst the top twenty countries of the world coal resources.
97% of coal reserves of Pakistan are of lignite rank and vast deposits of these occurs in AJK & Thar area.
industrial and domestic energy is mostly derived from imported oil, and the government is making a concerted effort to convert to indigineous coal where possible.
the measured reserves of coal has 85% of the country's total coal reserves.
the coal industry in AJK Kotli is in it's infancy, however the coal is of very good quality having low sulphur and high heat value.
the coal from AJK is far superior for industrial consumption including metallurgical coke, brick kiln and the cement industry and is of export quality.

Quick Facts about Azad Jammu and Kashmir

called the "Switzerland of the Himilayas".
there are about 3.4 million people living in ‘Azad’ Jammu Kashmir. Almost 92% of the population live in rural areas.
most people in ‘Azad’ Jammu Kashmir follow the Muslim faith but there are many different peoples and cultures.
rich in mineral resources: bauxite, coal, graphite, limestone and precious stones have been found.

State Objectives For the Coal Industry

to increase reliance on indigenous coal for industrial consumption.
to enhance the capacity of mineability to the optimal level.
to substitute oil with coal where possible.
reduce the overall impact on forex drain in the energy sector.
initiatives have been taken to convert the cement sector of Pakistan to use coal instead of oil.

Location of Coal Options

the climate of Kotli AJK area is sub-arid and sub-tropical with seasonal fluctuations. The summers are warm and hot, while the winters are fairly cold. Rainfall is moderate in the area during July and August & January to March.
the project location and the mine working do not pose any environmental adverse impact nor degradation.