Pakistan

Pakistan to set up first mega nuclear power plant: Ahsan Iqbal

Super critical technology will be used in the construction of the coal power plant

News Desk January 26, 2016

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A mega nuclear power plant is to be set up in Pakistan, the first in the country's history, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said on Tuesday.

"It will be the first time in the history of the country that a mega nuclear power plant would be set up with power generation capacity of 2,000 megawatts," the minister said in an interview, according to Radio Pakistan.

July-May: Rs48b spent on Karachi’s nuclear power plants

Iqbal added that Thar is enriched with natural coal deposits and the government is committed to utilising the resources for producing electricity, to overcome the power shortage in the country.

"Super critical technology will be used in the coal power plant, which will be established with the financing of the Asian Development Bank in Jamshoro to ensure a safe environment," he added.

Despite many difficulties, Pakistan has steadily continued its nuclear energy programme.

Nuclear power plants: ‘Production to be raised to 40,000MW by 2050’

Towards the end of last year, a report by a top US think tank predicted that Pakistan could turn into the fifth largest nuclear weapons state in the world by 2025.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also vowed to bring an end to the country-wide issue of load-shedding during the tenure of his government.

COMMENTS (11)

globalobserver | 8 years ago | Reply @Shahid Akram: "Nuclear Power is much better option for Pakistan because it is clean, cheap and environment friendly." Not sure. Nuclear plants cost a lot more to install. And then there is the cost of storing and disposing issue of spent radioactive fuel. While during normal operation it is pollution-free, any leaks of radioactivity has serious long-term consequences.

syed & syed | 8 years ago | Reply Again Mr Ahsan Iqbal and his will do will that. Please don't take him seriously because he is in habit to issue statements and create confusion No project necessary to remove the grievances of ordinary citizen is completed by this government except concentrating on roads , bridges over heads : example confusion on the route of CPEC.

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Rohit | 8 years ago | Reply @Shahid Akram...my friend, who told you that nuclear power is clean cheap and environment friendly ?? Nuclear plants and their maintenance is very costly... instead you should opt for building more dams to generate electricity, because It's hydro power which is clean cheap and environment friendly

ramdar | 8 years ago | Reply Is it about a nuclear power plant or a coal power plant? Both terms have been used in the article as if they mean the same.

Funops | 8 years ago | Reply That's a very good step for Pakistans development because load shading is the basic problem of Pakistan. Hope PMLN will finish this project in their government period. Pakistan Zindabad

Awais | 8 years ago | Reply @Shahid Akram: Clean cheap and environment friendly ??

curious2 | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan has the oldest nuclear power plants on the planet - they are off-line most of the time and the only reason they exist is that you don't have the money to safely decommission them. Before you start building mega nuclear power plants you should consider whether you have the money to properly manage, decommission, and provide for the safe storage of nuclear waste. Nuclear power isn't "cheap" when you take into acct the cost of decommissioning and spent fuel disposal - two items often ignored by nuclear power proponents.

Milli | 8 years ago | Reply I agree with all but Chinese technology for nuclear power plant... Best of luck ... Karachit

NKAli | 8 years ago | Reply Whenever, Ahsan Iqbal makes a statement I find it amusing, yes, very amusing. Looking at the PUNCHLINE, Quote: "with the financing of the Asian Development Bank in Jamshoro to ensure a safe environment,” he added." Just imagine the exponential interest and repayment problems that add to the loans. Salams

Usman | 8 years ago | Reply No progress until improvement in country's economy and that's not going to happen until PMLN leaves. Mega projects are not progress.

Shahid Akram | 8 years ago | Reply Nuclear Power is much better option for Pakistan because it is clean, cheap and environment friendly.

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