The Sindh government approved on Friday the third phase of the Thar coal mine expansion project costing an estimated Rs15.8 billion, excavating an additional 12.2 million tons of coal per year, helping save $420 million in foreign exchange every year with a reduction in the import of coal. “The third phase would reduce coal price to $27 per ton, making it the cheapest base load fuel in the country and Central Power Purchasing Agency or CPPA basket tariff would reduce by Rs0.49/kwh to Rs15.05/kwh helping consumers save Rs60 billion annual and on top of it, the Sindh government would earn an annual royalty of Rs10 billion,