Civil-nuclear cooperation: French govt says option can be explored at request

Says Islamabad is working with Beijing but Paris has not received request.


Zafar Bhutta October 02, 2013
Financing: $300m is the amount France has committed to hydropower projects in Pakistan. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: French Ambassador Philippe Thiebaud has said his country is ready to consider Pakistan’s request for civil nuclear cooperation keeping in view international safeguards.

However, “we have not received any formal request from Islamabad to enhance cooperation in producing nuclear electricity.” Pakistan is working with China in the area of civil nuclear power, the ambassador said while talking to the media here on Wednesday at the first roadshow tilted “World of energy efficiency for a better Pakistan,” organised by Schneider Electric.

“It depends on Pakistan whether it takes any such decision and my country is ready to consider the request for enhancing civil nuclear cooperation in line with international obligations,” he reiterated.



The French envoy, while inaugurating the roadshow, praised Schneider Electric for introducing electricity efficiency products in Pakistan, as power conservation was more viable than increasing electricity production.

Schneider Electric is a France-based multinational corporation that specialises in electricity distribution, automation management and produces installation components for energy management.

The roadshow held under the umbrella campaign ‘Experience Efficiency’ showcased the complete energy solution portfolio of the company for all electricity consumers ranging from small domestic users to large power houses.

Responding to a question about French help to Pakistan in constructing Diamer Bhasha Dam, he said Paris was already providing assistance in setting up hydropower projects, mainly smaller ones such as Jabban hydropower project in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Jagran project of over 100-megawatt capacity and Munda Dam, a comparatively bigger project.

However, he added France had not yet provided any assistance for Diamer Bhasha Dam. France was part of a consortium of development partners in a project to save up to 1,000 megawatts of electricity along with donors such as the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Germany and others, he said.

France has committed around $300 million of financing to hydropower projects as Pakistan is facing an energy crisis.

Schneider Electric Country President for UAE, Oman and Pakistan Benoit Dubarle stressed that the roadshow would offer a platform to identify new opportunities.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2013.

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COMMENTS (9)

Natalia | 10 years ago | Reply

With the French invitation of nuclear deal, this is a positive indication for the whole world that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear weapons state. A country like France can also cooperate with Pakistan in particularly ‘a Nuclear Cooperation’. The time of this opportunity for nuclear cooperation comes when Indo-US nuclear deal has just been finalized. This is certainly opens lots of opportunities for Pakistan to enhance its nuclear civilian potentials. Pak-French nuclear cooperation is certainly a milestone. Pakistani government should certainly work on this French option speedily in order to get through the energy crisis. Being a front line ally with US, Pakistan has earned nothing except than the losses. Pakistan should open its spectrum to go for cooperation with different states. It is also observed that Pakistan has come across with lots of opportunities with the arrival of new government. As it is a time to sort out the energy crisis in the country as soon as possible.

Mobeen | 10 years ago | Reply

Pakistan is energy deficient country and thus need a nondiscriminatory criteria based approach to access nuclear technology. Pakistan must be given equal rights and responsibilities in this regard. As Pakistan's experience in the nuclear power programme provided auspicious environment to further develop nuclear power generation capacity.

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