China promises Pakistan help to set up 4 new N-power plants

[fatman17]

China promises Pakistan help to set up 4 new N-power plants

14 Apr, 2008.

ISLAMABAD: China is learnt to have assured Pakistan all help and support to set up at least four new nuclear power plants to meet its "growing energy demands".

In case an agreement is inked between the two countries on nuclear energy cooperation, the two new nuclear power units of 320 MW each would be established at Chashma and Karachi, reported The Nation.

The request was formally made by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf during his recent visit to China, where he reportedly held extensive talks with the top Chinese leadership on the vital issue

"Islamabad's request for more Chinese nuclear power reactors is meant to bridge the widening gap between the demand and supply of energy. The Chinese friends have been asked to help Pakistan establish at least four more nuclear power plants of nearly 1300 MW and their response was positive," the paper quoted a senior Pakistani official as saying here last evening.

He said that Islamabad and Beijing would now carry forward the dialogue on important issues in the weeks to come that could lead to the finalisation of landmark accord between the two sides.

Islamabad and Beijing, the friendly neighbouring states, have been engaged in nuclear energy cooperation for many years. It was back in 2000 when the first reactor of Chashma Nuclear Power Complex was commissioned. A Chinese company has been working on the second phase of that plant after the two sides signed a contract to jointly launch the project in 2004.

Currently Pakistan depends mainly on hydel power generation to meet its energy needs, but its power generation had dropped considerably because of water shortage in the country. "Hence Pakistan is now in the process of exploring coal, nuclear, wind and solar energy resources to increase its power generation," the official said and added: "Presently, the country is facing a power shortage of 1,500MW to 2,000MW and it is feared to grow alarmingly if timely steps like installation of more nuclear power plants are not taken to improve the situation."

 

[Proud to be Pakistani]

Good Option as the Cheapest Solution! But not a power bridging solution. We have to make use of our Coal Reserves and have to Make Dams for Major Energy Production. The Wind Energy Conversion technique started last few years can also be an efficient and cheap way to generate Electricity within Sindh and Baluchistan.

 

[Plasma]

I think hydro, wind, and solar power are the way to go. I agree that a few N plants are required fast currently, but we need to move to better and cleaner energy.

 

[Neo]

‘China may have resumed civil nuclear assistance to Pakistan’​

* Hindustan Times claims report corroborated by Western intelligence agencies​

LAHORE: India has received intelligence inputs saying that China has secretly resumed assistance to Pakistan’s civilian nuclear programme, according to the Hindustan Times, which has also claimed that the report has been “corroborated by Western intelligence agencies”.

According to the report, China’s resumption of assistance is a possible follow up to the visit of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to Beijing on October 18. A bilateral nuclear agreement was signed during the visit. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi later said that China had agreed to set up two atomic reactors, the Chashma-3 and Chashma-4, and the Pakistan-China Joint Atomic Commission would meet soon. The deal is expected to provide a symbolic balance to the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement, said the Hindustan Times. “The Chashma 3 and 4 reactors have been under a cloud since China signed up to the Nuclear Suppliers Group in 2004,” said the newspaper.

Under group guidelines, no NSG member could provide nuclear assistance to a non-signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Beijing claimed to have ‘grandfathered’ the Chashma 3 and 4 reactors saying that it had the right to fulfil the contract with Pakistan because it had been signed before China’s entry into the NSG.

However, according to a senior government adviser, the US has demarched China over ‘providing Pakistan reactors’, and declined to endorse the ‘grandfather’ clause. “Beijing on its part had never given up its right to provide Pakistan the two reactors; it merely avoided angering the US for fear of sanctions,” said the report.

China may have now begun preparing the ground for a transfer in expectation that the US may be too consumed with the financial crisis and the presidential transition to take notice of any infraction of the NSG guidelines, said the newspaper.

In the past, China has defended its nuclear co-operation to Pakistan arguing that Pakistan’s nuclear arms posture was ‘defensive’ and the Indo-Pakistan nuclear standoff provided stability to the region. The Chashma reactors however are supposed be safeguarded and would not contribute to Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme.