Electricity production: Work on Chashma-IV plant under way

Government intends to increase nuclear power generation: Iqbal.

CHASHMA: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has said that Pakistan has a right to produce electricity through nuclear power plants for the economic development of the country. He was speaking at the dome placement ceremony of the Chashma-IV nuclear power plant.

The power plant is being constructed through a joint venture between China National Nuclear Cooperation (CNNC) and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). The C-3 power plant is already under construction and, by 2016, both C-3 and C-4 will be adding around 640 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the national grid.

PAEC Chairman Dr Ansar Parvez said that the project will enter the installation process after the dome placement of the C-4 power plant.



The minister informed the gathering that the government is planning to install more nuclear power plants and Muzaffargarh has already been approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) as a potential site. The proposal will be sent to the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) soon for final approval.

“We live in an age of economic competition where the failure or success of a country is determined by its economic strength,” the minister said. He said the year 2013 marked a milestone in the history of cooperation between China and Pakistan. The Chinese premier has also reassured Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that he was supervising the progress of the agreements, added the minister. If successfully executed, Pakistan will become the centre of trade and economic activities in the region, Iqbal said.

Meanwhile, highlighting the current energy crisis in the country, the minister said, “We are heavily depending upon oil-based power generation which cannot be run on a sustainable basis.

“The government is working on different power projects including the Gadani Power Project that will produce 6,000 MW electricity,” he said, adding that Dasu and Diamer Bhasha hydro power projects, once completed, will produce over 9,000 MW electricity.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2014.

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