Pakistan aims for nuclear acceptance

[Neo]

Pakistan aims for nuclear acceptance​

By Farhan Bokhari in Islamabad

Published: August 27 2008

The recent turmoil in Pakistan has only heightened western anxiety over the country’s nuclear weapons programme.

Yet, thanks to security measures put in place during the nine-year rule of President Pervez Musharraf, who was recently forced to resign, controls over the country’s nuclear activity have never been firmer, according to both Pakistani and western officials.

This may provide some reassurance to the west, but paradoxically could dent Islamabad’s hopes of following the faltering path on which India has embarked to international acceptance of its own nuclear energy programme. The Nuclear Suppliers Group, the global cartel of nuclear material suppliers, is to resume consideration of India’s agreement to buy US nuclear technology this week .

“The Pakistani military has taken full control of the nuclear programme and now hold the keys to this project. They have gone out of their way to demonstrate to all of us that they are firmly in charge,” says a senior western diplomat in Islamabad who tracks Pakistan’s nuclear developments.

Mr Musharraf focused on improving nuclear controls after revelations in 2004 that Abdul Qadeer Khan, the founder of the country’s nuclear programme, had traded know-how and technology with Iran, Libya and North Korea. Mr Khan has remained virtually under house arrest since then, with Pakistan denying repeated requests for western investigators to interview him.

“Please understand our sensitivity. As the president of Pakistan, I would be foolish if I accepted any foreigners intruding into our nuclear [assets]; we guard them very jealously,” Mr Musharraf declared earlier this year.

Amid the disclosures about Mr Khan, Mr Musharraf strengthened the military-run Strategic Plans Division (SPD), responsible for securing the 60 to 70 uranium bombs and three to five plutonium bombs that western intelligence believes have been produced.

The SPD set up a human reliability initiative to track the activities of up to 2,000 technical experts at the heart of the nuclear facilities, with knowledge that could assist with nuclear weapons production.

Other new safeguards included establishing a clear chain of command within the military under a three-star general who oversees the bombs in storage. The government, through agencies such as the SPD and the Nuclear Command Authority headed by the president, receives regular updates on frequent checks carried out to certify the safety of the nuclear weapons.

Mr Musharraf’s downfall, say analysts, has had no impact on control of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, which remains firmly with the military.

“There is no indication that the military does not exercise full control over Pakistan’s nuclear assets,” says Tanvir Ahmed Khan, a former Pakistani diplomat and head of the government-run Islamabad Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS). While the arrangement falls short of the civilian control generally held up by western states as best practice, Mr Khan says: “Responsibility is with an institution, which is reassuring.”

Western diplomats warn that the military must help with the creation of oversight mechanisms involving elected politicians to improve future prospects in areas such as securing civilian reactors from the western world. Pakistan is keen to seek a deal with the US similar to India’s ambitious initiative to secure a supply of US nuclear reactors.

So far, US officials have denied Islamabad’s requests, citing the risk of technology leakages to other countries. “Even if the military is firmly in charge of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, where is the civilian component in decision-making?” asks one senior US official.

“Ultimately, there will have to be evidence of a strong civilian oversight for the world to accept that we are moving in to a new and more reassuring phase. Maybe after President Musharraf, politicians gain enough clout in time that they become full partners in managing and securing the nuclear programme,” the official added.

 

[dr.umer]

Pakistan aims for nuclear acceptance​

Financial Times UK

The recent turmoil in Pakistan has only heightened western anxiety over the country's nuclear weapons programme.

Yet, thanks to security measures put in place during the nine-year rule of President Pervez Musharraf, who was recently forced to resign, controls over the country's nuclear activity have never been firmer, according to both Pakistani and western officials.

This may provide some reassurance to the west, but paradoxically could dent Islamabad's hopes of following the faltering path on which India has embarked to international acceptance of its own nuclear energy programme. The Nuclear Suppliers Group, the global cartel of nuclear material suppliers, is to resume consideration of India's agreement to buy US nuclear technology this week.

"The Pakistani military has taken full control of the nuclear programme and now hold the keys to this project. They have gone out of their way to demonstrate to all of us that they are firmly in charge," says a senior western diplomat in Islamabad who tracks Pakistan's nuclear developments.

Mr Musharraf focused on improving nuclear controls after revelations in 2004 that Abdul Qadeer Khan, the founder of the country's nuclear programme, had traded know-how and technology with Iran, Libya and North Korea. Mr Khan has remained virtually under house arrest since then, with Pakistan denying repeated requests for western investigators to interview him.

"Please understand our sensitivity. As the president of Pakistan, I would be foolish if I accepted any foreigners intruding into our nuclear [assets]; we guard them very jealously," Mr Musharraf declared earlier this year.

Amid the disclosures about Mr Khan, Mr Musharraf strengthened the military-run Strategic Plans Division (SPD), responsible for securing the 60 to 70 uranium bombs and three to five plutonium bombs that western intelligence believes have been produced.

The SPD set up a human reliability initiative to track the activities of up to 2,000 technical experts at the heart of the nuclear facilities, with knowledge that could assist with nuclear weapons production.

Other new safeguards included establishing a clear chain of command within the military under a three-star general who oversees the bombs in storage. The government, through agencies such as the SPD and the Nuclear Command Authority headed by the president, receives regular updates on frequent checks carried out to certify the safety of the nuclear weapons.

Mr Musharraf's downfall, say analysts, has had no impact on control of Pakistan's nuclear programme, which remains firmly with the military.

"There is no indication that the military does not exercise full control over Pakistan's nuclear assets," says Tanvir Ahmed Khan, a former Pakistani diplomat and head of the government-run Islamabad Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS). While the arrangement falls short of the civilian control generally held up by western states as best practice, Mr Khan says: "Responsibility is with an institution, which is reassuring."

Western diplomats warn that the military must help with the creation of oversight mechanisms involving elected politicians to improve future prospects in areas such as securing civilian reactors from the western world. Pakistan is keen to seek a deal with the US similar to India's ambitious initiative to secure a supply of US nuclear reactors.

So far, US officials have denied Islamabad's requests, citing the risk of technology leakages to other countries. "Even if the military is firmly in charge of Pakistan's nuclear programme, where is the civilian component in decision-making?" asks one senior US official.

"Ultimately, there will have to be evidence of a strong civilian oversight for the world to accept that we are moving in to a new and more reassuring phase. Maybe after President Musharraf, politicians gain enough clout in time that they become full partners in managing and securing the nuclear programme," the official added.

Markets, Page 24-26 FT.com / World / Asia-Pacific / Pakistan

 

[IceCold]

Pakistan expecting the same deal as that of given to the US is like living in a fools paradise. The way this deal has been struck with India and out of box solutions have been provided to ease Indian concerns will never ever happen again and that too with Pakistan. Even if for one moment we agree that US gets agreed on providing Pakistan with the nuclear fuel, it will come under so many strings attached that it would be virtually impossible for Pakistan to sustain its nuclear weapons program without foreign interference. Our nuclear installations will be like an open book to the rest of the world, meaning more prone to an air assault by the US since they will be in a better position to locate and capture them then before.

 

[Neo]

Pak can never get civilian reactors from West until military controls its nukes ​

Islamabad, Aug 28 : Pakistan would not be able to get civilian reactors from the West, which would in fact bring along nuclear acceptance from the World community, until its Army controlled its nuclear arms, said a report in the Financial Times on the basis of opinion of a host of Western diplomats.

According to the paper, the Western diplomats warn that the Pakistan military must help with the creation of oversight mechanisms involving elected politicians to improve future prospects in areas such as securing civilian reactors from the western world.

These western diplomats’ opinion assumes significance in the wake of Pakistan seeking a deal with the US similar to India’s ambitious initiative to secure a supply of US nuclear reactors.

So far, US officials have denied Islamabad’s requests, citing the risk of technology leakages to other countries. “Even if the military is firmly in charge of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, where is the civilian component in decision-making?” the paper quoted one senior US official as saying.

He added: “Ultimately, there will have to be evidence of a strong civilian oversight for the world to accept that we are moving in to a new and more reassuring phase. Maybe after President Musharraf, politicians gain enough clout in time that they become full partners in managing and securing the nuclear programme.”

Analysts say that former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf’s downfall has had no impact on control of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, which still remains firmly with the military. “There is no indication that the military does not exercise full control over Pakistan’s nuclear assets,” says Tanvir Ahmed Khan, a former Pakistani diplomat and head of the government-run Islamabad Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS).

While the arrangement falls short of the civilian control generally held up by western states as best practice, Khan says: “Responsibility is with an institution, which is reassuring.”

The recent turmoil in Pakistan has further heightened western anxiety over the country’s nuclear weapons programme. (ANI)

 

[Flintlock]

If the Nuke deal is about electricity, why doesn't Pakistan look towards renewable energy like Solar/Wind?

I believe that Pakistan has quite a bit of potential in Non-conventional energy sources.

 

[Neo]

If the Nuke deal is about electricity, why doesn't Pakistan look towards renewable energy like Solar/Wind?

I believe that Pakistan has quite a bit of potential in Non-conventional energy sources.

All sources ar being tabbed including solar and wind energy with latest contact going to Turkey to build wind turbines in Pakistan and to Korea for an experimental solar energy park in Sindh.

Despite being clean and cheap its the low yield of these evnironmental friendly sources that remains the problem.

For example, to light a city like Karachi we need to build 80.000-100.000 windmills..

 

[pkpatriotic]

Pakistan to install 10 N-power plants
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will install 10 nuclear power plants in toto for which six sites have been selected to make possible "the mission impossible" to increase capacity to generate 8,800 MW of nuclear energy in over 22 years time, a senior government official told The News.

"The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) has selected six sites on the basis of the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)." According to a senior official, the PAEC have selected six sites for installation of more nuclear power plants (NPPs) that include 1) Qadirabad-Bulloki (QB) link canal near Qadirabad Headworks; 2) Dera Ghazi Khan (DG) canal near Tuansa barrage, 3) Taunsa-Punjnad (TP) canal near Multan; 4) Nara canal near Sukkur, 5) Pat Feeder canal near Guddu and 6) Kabul river near Nowshera.

ìThese sites are in addition to the Chashma site where four nuclear plants will be installed. The other nuclear power plants would be installed at sites selected by the PAEC." "Objectives of the site selection are to determine all natural and man-induced hazards at a site which could jeopardise the safety of the NPP; reject a site if an engineering solution is not available to mitigate effects of any hazard and establish design-based parameters.

Under the strategy to achieve the target, Islamabad is to seek from Beijing the fuel technology for future nuclear power plants during the forthcoming visit of President Zardari to China that is to take place somewhere by the mid of next month.

"Pakistan that is going to install two more nuclear power plants at Chashma which are to be known as C-3 and C-4. These power plants will cost over Rs 139 billion, including a foreign exchange component of Rs 99.538 billion."

The country has also planned to establish a nuclear power fuel complex (NPFC) at a cost of Rs 51.298 billion to locally fabricate fuel that will be used for the future nuclear power plants in the country. The Nuclear Power Fuel Complex is under implementation that consists of five components that include Chemical Processing Plants, Enrichment Plant, Seamless Tube Plant-1; Fuel Fabrication Plant; and Nuclear Fuel Testing Plant.

To achieve the target, authorities concerned also made a plan to develop manpower to materialise the country's nuclear power programme. "We have, to this effect, initiated a capacity building program of paramount importance at a cost of Rs 491.42 million, including foreign exchange component of Rs 166.70 million," the official said.

The government needs trained and qualified professionals to collaborate in the design and construction of more nuclear power plants to generate 8,800 MW of electricity. "Practically, we need 200-300 professionals per plant and an overhead of 600-800 centrally placed professionals to participate in the project management, design, engineering construction and installation of the nuclear power plants."

"The currently available manpower for this purpose is less than 150 persons." To a question, the official said selected professionals would also be provided sufficient competency in Chinese language to enable them to communicate with vendors and manufacturers in China.

They would also be provided some on-the-job hands-on training in the Chinese nuclear industry especially those related to manufacturing. To a question, the official said the PAEC has planned to recruit 400 persons during the next five years at the rate of 80 persons per year and keep them under training for a period of 18-20 months.

"The training program of these persons will primarily consist of teaching them technical Chinese languages. And the services of NUML (National University of Modern Language) specialists will be used for this purpose."

The official also disclosed that the said personnel would also be provided some nuclear power plants orientation and those who are not well-versed with Chinese language and in orientation courses will be sent for on-job training in China for up to four months depending upon their area of expertise and the availability of the training location.

 

[Mustaq]

I'm a hindutva troll.

 

[Neo]

Pakistan, China in nuclear fuel deal​

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Pakistan will seek nuclear fuel assistance from China in a bid to build 10 new nuclear power plants over the next 22 years, sources say.

Without naming sources, the Press Trust of Pakistan reported Wednesday that Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has approved construction of two nuclear power plants at an existing complex in Punjab with Chinese assistance. It said the move appears aimed at counterbalancing a nuclear fuel deal negotiated this year between India and Western suppliers.

The decision was made at a Sept. 19 Islamabad meeting attended by top Pakistani officials, including representatives of the military and the Strategic Plans Division, which controls Pakistan's nuclear weapons arsenal, the news agency reported.

The two new power plants reportedly will be located at the Chashma complex, about 125 miles southwest of Islamabad. The facility already has two atomic power plants -- one that is functional and another under construction.

 

[Neo]

Govt to train labour force for nuclear power schemes​

* Project to cost Rs 491.42 million​

ISLAMABAD: For completion of different nuclear-related power generation schemes, the government has planned to produce high skilled labour with emphasis on learning technical Chinese and industrial training in China.

The project, namely ‘Developing manpower to meet the requirements of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) nuclear power programme’, will cost the government Rs 491.42 million with Rs 166.70 million as Foreign Exchange Component (FEC).

The PAEC will be the executing agency of the capacity building project. The trained personnel under the propose project will be adjusted against approved posts of others projects of the PAEC.

Meeting the target of generating 8,800MW nuclear capacity by 2030 would require trained and qualified professionals to collaborate in the design and construction of almost 10 nuclear power plants.

Practically, it amounts to allowing 200-250 professional per plant and an overhead of about 600-800 centrally placed professionals to participate in the project management, design, engineering construction, and installation of the nuclear power plants. Presently, the available manpower for this purpose is less than 150 persons.

In addition to meeting the urgent requirement of the manpower, main purpose of the scheme was to provide to these individuals sufficient competency in the Chinese Language to enable them to communicate with the vendors and manufacturers in China. Other goal of the project was to provide them some on-the-job hands-on training in the Chinese nuclear industry specially those related to manufacturing.

Under this project, the government plans to recruit 400 persons in the next five years at the rate of about 80 persons per year and keep them under training for a period of 20 months. The training programme of these people will primarily consist of teaching them Technical Chinese language. According to sources, the services of NU ML and language specialists will be used for this purpose. These personnel will also be provided some nuclear power plant orientation and those who do well in Chinese language and in orientation courses (top two third of the total) will be sent for on-the-job training in China for up to four months depending upon their areas of expertise and the availability of the training location.

The government has allocated token money of Rs 15 million in the Public Sector Development Program 2008-09. During construction of nuclear power plant CHASNUPP unit-1 (C-1) and another similar unit (C-2) is under construction at the Chashma site, the PAEC personnel have gained some knowledge of the Chinese language. However, in depth knowledge of technical Chinese language is required to negotiate contracts of several nuclear power plants (costing billion of dollars) with the Chinese in a successful and convenient manner. The Energy Security Action Plan (ESAP) envisages electricity requirements to increase from the installed capacity of 19681 MW in 2007 to some 162000 MW by the year 2030. It is planned to increase the nuclear power generation capacity to 8800 MW by the year 2030.

 

[Neo]

Pakistan, China may enter deals for more nuclear power plants ​

Zardari’s visit to Beijing may see accords for car manufacturing, hybrid seeds,cement factories and steel mills​

Wednesday, October 08, 2008
By Khalid Mustafa

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will seek help from China in installing two more nuclear power plants at Chashma, materialising the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project, and joint ventures in manufacturing and assembling cars during the visit of President Asif Ali Zaradri to Beijing that is to start from October 14.

According to a senior government official at Finance Ministry, Pakistan and China may also strike deal in manufacturing and assembling of trucks. “This is basically the proposal of Heavy Mechanical Complex.”

Islamabad and Beijing may also enter into agreements for setting up steel mills and cement plants and for developing the agriculture industry.

China would be invited to invest in pesticide production and hybrid seed industry. During the visit, Pakistan would also seek cooperation in developing the electronics industry and home appliances.

When contacted Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Salman Faruqui confirmed that the cooperation on the said economic sectors would be sought from the top authorities of Beijing.

According to the official, Pakistan has only 29 cement plants having annual production capacity of 39 million tonnes. Pakistan wants more investment in this sector.

“Likewise, we need more steel mills keeping in view the increasing needs in the country particularly for developing the earthquake hit areas,” the official said.

Pakistan will seek financing from China to install more nuclear power plants at Chashma and satellite communication system during the upcoming visit.

“Pakistan is going to install two more nuclear power plants at Chashma which are to be known as C-3 and C-4. These power plants will cost over Rs139 billion including foreign exchange component of Rs99.538 billion,” he said.

The two projects would generate 600 MW of electricity. Each plant will comprise of Nuclear Steam Supply System (NSSS), a turbine generator set and the associated auxiliary equipment and installations. The NSSS consists of a reactor and coolant loops connected in parallel to the reactor vessel. Each loop comprises a reactor coolant pump and steam generator.

Chashma Nuclear Power Plant (C-1) is already providing 300 MW of electricity and the Chashma-2 with the same capacity to generate nuclear power is under implementation phase. The design of the C-3 and C-4 is essentially the same as that of under construction C-2. The C-2 design is an improved version of C-1.

The C-3 and C-4 will be completed in 8 years and they would provide electricity to NTDC (National Transmission and Dispatch Company) at the rate of Rs6.06 per unit. The annual power generation of the project will be of 4467.6 million kilowatt hours.

According to the official, the country has also planned to establish a Nuclear Power Fuel Complex (NPFC) at the cost of Rs51.298 billion to locally fabricate fuel that will b used for the future nuclear power plants in country. Nuclear Power Fuel Complex is under implementation that consists of five components that include Chemical Processing Plants, Enrichment Plant, Seamless Tube Plant -1; Fuel Fabrication Plant; and Nuclear Fuel Testing Plant.

“To materialize this very important project of NPFC, the country needs nuclear fuel technology from China to fabricate local fuel for the future nuclear power plants.

“With four similar power plants at Chashma site, it will be possible to reduce maintenance and physical security costs,” the official said.

The existing power generation capacity is not sufficient. The power demand projection based on growth rate shows that power demand will increase from 15,183 MW in 2007-08 to about 20,000 MW in 2010 in the WAPDA system and severe shortage of power is expected in next two years.

To meet this demand an additional capacity of about 8000 MW would be needed by 2010. At present, about 65 percent of the total electricity generated is based on fossil fuel plants (gas 36 per cent, oil 29 per cent). The fossil fuels are depleting fast besides their price in international market is very volatile.

Therefore it is imperative to diversify the fuel mix in power generation. Under the Energy Security Action Plan, Pakistan will increase the share of nuclear power from 1 per cent to 5.4 per cent by installing 8,800 MW nuclear power plants by 2030.

 

[metalfalcon]

If this is true it will solve many problems for Pakistan

1.) These Power plant can generate Electricity to meet the growing demand and will help the Govt to overcome Power shortages.

2.) It will also put Pakistan on same level as India is In the Eyes of NSG and IAEA.

3.) It will strengthen the Relations with China even more.

 

[dr.umer]

Zardari may seek N-deal with China during maiden visit​

Beijing, Oct 9 (PTI) Amid indications that Pakistan was seeking a atomic agreement with China on the lines of the Indo-US nuclear pact, President Asif Ali Zardari will visit Beijing next week for talks with the Chinese leadership to strengthen their "all-weather" bilateral ties.

"As a guest of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Zardari will pay a state visit to China from October 14 to 17," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang announced here.

"China is looking forward to and welcomes Zardari's visit," Qin said.

During his stay, Zardari is expected to hold talks with Hu and meet with other Chinese leaders, including top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao.

China expects Zardari's visit to deepen bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership, Qin was quoted as saying by the offical Xinhua news agency.

Earlier, soon after the US Senate overwhelmingly approved the Indo-US nuclear deal on October 4, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had indicated that Islamabad may seek a similar arrangement with China after the US repeatedly said no to Islamabad's plea for a bilateral atomic pact.

"Pakistan will now make efforts for a civil nuclear deal and they (the international community) will have to accommodate us," Gilani said.

Stressing that there was "no need to worry", Gilani said, "Now that the civil nuclear deal with India has been finalised, Pakistan will have the right to ask for a similar deal because we do not want there to be any discrimination."

Asked if Pakistan would seek nuclear technology and know-how from China, Gilani said Beijing and Islamabad had a "unique relationship" that was a "time-tested and all-weather friendship".

"Very soon the President (Asif Ali Zardari) and myself will be visiting China. Our cooperation is not limited to any one field (and we have) multi-dimensional cooperation. Our cooperation in defence will increase," Gilani had said. PTI

 

[Imran Khan]

what kind of deal this one i think not like ind-us deal

 

[Black Stone]

The Sino-Pak relations is once again tested. Let's see if Zardari brings home dumplins or empty handed.

All the best to Pakistan.