Pakistan do produce nuclear electricity. Though nuclear electricity does not contribute much but contribution is increasing fast. For instance, nuclear electricity production in 1999 (year Musharraf came to power) was only 0.6 percent of Pakistan total electricity generation (or around 360 million KWh). By 2005, Pakistan nuclear electricity was contributing around 2.5 percent of total electricity production (or over 2000 million KWh). Many nuclear plant projects have got started by Musharraf government, and according to plan Pakistan government embarked in April 2005, it is expected that by 2030, Pakistan would produce around 8800 MW of nuclear electricity.
Pakistan Times (9 April 2005):
Pakistan Times | Top Story: Pakistan’s Nuclear-power programme to be expanded
CHASHMA: **Pakistan Friday embarked upon a long-term plan of **installing a capacity of 8,800 MW power generation from atomic energy by 2030 with breaking the ground for over 300 MW Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit-II.
Not only that the government is all out to build more nuclear reactors for electricity generation, Chinese being the vendor of CHASHNUPP units, are more than willing to continue supporting Pakistan even beyond the completion of the Chashma-II [C-2].
Dr Ashfaq Ahmad Khan, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister along with Wang Shoujun, Vice President of China National Nuclear Corporation [CNNC], broke the ground for C-2 project, adjacent to CHASHNUPP-I of approximately the same capacity. Chashma unit one [C-1] is operational at 325 MW since 2000 at 95 per cent capacity utilization as a symbol of lasting friendship between China and Pakistan.
The C-2 is to be completed and connected to the national power grid by 2011 with an estimated cost of Rs 51.046 billion including the mark-up to be accumulated by the completion time.
It would be the third nuclear power generating facility after KANUPP at Karachi and C-1. The site of the C-2 is adjacent to the C-1.
The two operational nuclear reactors are being operated by the scientists and engineers of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission under the power generation licenses of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority.
The nuclear power plants in Pakistan are working under the safeguards and regular monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN watchdog on nuclear technology.
As Pakistan has achieved self-reliance in development of nuclear fuel, the IAEA keeps a close eye on power generating nuclear reactors.
The UN Watchdog
Officials of the PAEC say that the IAEA inspectors visit after every three months while their camera eyes are open on us 24-hour. The senior officials of the PAEC told a media team the other day that the Commission after the 1976 withdrawal of Canadian Support from KANUPP up to 1991 when the Chinese came in for C-1, had been through a precarious conditions.
Till date, they said, Pakistan was denied of any support other than that of Chinese while the IAEA advise comes up to the extent of safety but categorically denied for performance of the reactors.
Sino-Pak cooperation
Dr Ashfaq and Foreign Secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan both stated while addressing the ground-breaking ceremony on the site of C-2 that the road of Pakistan’s endeavour to develop nuclear energy for peaceful use as well as that of Sino-Pak cooperation was not ending at the C-2.
Dr Ashfaq said that the C-1 was the first ever export of a nuclear reactor by China over a decade ago, “but we reached the point of C-2 ground-breaking following the successful completion of C-1.
Earlier, the Foreign Secretary made an announcement in so many words that “C-2, in my view, is just a beginning of expansion of Sino-Pak ties in peace-purposes nuclear field, and economic development after the achievement of time-tested political friendship of the two countries.”
The Foreign Secretary who was in China as Ambassador of Pakistan on his previous posting, foresaw tremendous potential of Pak-China cooperation in the nuclear development for peaceful purposes under the umbrella of the Treaty of Friendship, and Cooperation recently signed by the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao this week at Islamabad.
Besides vice president of the CNNC, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Zhang Chunxiang, Chairman Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority Jamshed A Hashmir, Javed Iqleem Member Power PAEC, Sulman Bashir Pakistani Ambassador in China were also present at the ground-breaking ceremony.
More Plants
Pakistan will construct more nuclear power plants after Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit -2 (CHASHNUPP-2) for its peaceful purposes, as it has abundant expertise, manpower and reliable friends for cooperation in this regard.
“Pakistan has now more dependable workforce and friends and our nuclear power programme is poised for expansion in order to meet the higher needs of accelerated economic development of the country,” said Dr. Ashfaq Ahmed.
Referring to Shahrah-e-Dosti, a road at Chashma site named to signify Pak-China friendship, Dr. Ashfaq Ahmed said this road has no end point, and symbolizes the ever growing cooperation between the two countries in peaceful usage of nuclear energy.
Welcome Address
Earlier, in his welcome address, Chairman PAEC Parvez Butt said Pakistan has demonstrated its capability to operate nuclear power plants efficiently and safely for the last 34 years.
The Chairman said President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have provided their fullest support for the development of strong base for producing nuclear electricity as per requirement of the country.
The success of PAEC has been because of its people, work culture and systems which ensured a continued marched forward of its programme despite embargoes, Mr. Butt added.
The Chairman said Pakistan’s nuclear power plants are under International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] under the safeguard and it maintains a close liaison with IAEA, World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), Candu Operators Group (COG) and PNRA.
Perspective
He informed there is resurgence of nuclear power in the world due to global warming and soaring oil prices and Pakistan nuclear electricity programme will be expanded as per local and global conditions.
Representing Chinese government, Vice President of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), Wang Shoujun said Pak-China friendship has been steady and fruitful to the mutual benefits of their people and it will continue to grow in all areas including nuclear power.
He said success of CHASHNUPP-1 which is the fruit of hard work of engineers and scientists of both the countries has paved the way for 340 MW CHASSNUP-2 and many others in future.
Member Power PAEC, Javed Iqleem said the expertise and knowledge obtained from Chashma-1 and Chashma-2 will be our chief asset for embarking upon an ambitious nuclear power production programme.
Recounting the achievements of Pakistani scientists and engineers in nuclear power generation, he said, after the completion of 30 years design life of KANUPP, PAEC has renovated it to extend its useful life for another 15 years.
Chairman PNRA, Jamshed Hashmi, who himself is a veteran of nuclear power put on record the efforts of Chairman PAEC Parvez Butt for his contribution to indigenous solutions of the problems faced by Pakistan’s nuclear power programme.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, a key figure in supporting C-1 and C-2 assistance said China’s support to Pakistan is a permanent feature of our policy and congratulated PAEC for CHASHNUPP-3 in advance at the ground-breaking of CHASNUPP-2.
