Pakistan

China investing in six nuclear projects in Pakistan

The neighbouring country has uptil now refrained from openly commenting on its nuclear cooperation with Pakistan

Web Desk February 09, 2015

China only declared the first two reactors it had constructed for Pakistan, Chashma-1 and Chashma-2, at the time of joining the NSG. STOCK IMAGE

BEIJING: A Chinese official confirmed on Monday that China is involved in at least six nuclear power projects in Pakistan and is likely to export more to the country, according to an India Today report.

China has uptil now refrained from commenting on its nuclear cooperation with Pakistan. However, Wang Xiaotao, a key official of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said at a press conference on Saturday that Beijing has been involved in the construction of six reactors in the country. The official’s remarks come amid concerns voiced against increased civilian nuclear cooperation between the two countries as per the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) guidelines.

Addressing a press conference in Beijing, Wang said China "has assisted the construction of at least six nuclear reactors in Pakistan with a total installed capacity of 3.4 million kilowatts." China was also exporting nuclear technology to Argentina, with the two countries on Wednesday signing a deal for exporting heavy-water reactors.

China only declared the first two reactors it had constructed for Pakistan, Chashma-1 and Chashma-2, at the time of joining the NSG, according to Indian and American officials. In 2009, the China National Nuclear Corporation signed agreements for two new reactors, Chashma-3 and Chashma-4. The deals became a matter of controversy and were debated at the NSG.

COMMENTS (30)

kanidefurqan | 9 years ago | Reply @ BruteForce You are quoting a 4 year Old study.. increase your searching skills before sharing something. here is the update on ACP-1000 Nuclear reactor. http://www.nucnet.org/all-the-news/2014/12/08/china-s-generation-iii-acp-1000-nuclear-reactor-passes-iaea-review what you need to see is the list of Nuclear Disasters of your country, also take a brief look at nuclear disaster ever happened in pakistan in the same list.

SHAHID | 9 years ago | Reply @Bilal Kaleem: Maybe so, but then DONT take the kickbacks, just refuse any pocket change coming your way.. be honest.. YES, stop taking kickbacks.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

SHAHID | 9 years ago | Reply @Chachoo: His is a prejudiced mind and all such minds are mostly deaf and blind and do not have the ability to learn and live in harmony. .

Masood Raja | 9 years ago | Reply Thank you China. As a matter of fact friend in need is friend indeed. Pakistan have two Chinese nuclear reactors Chashma One and Two operational. It will help Pakistan to over come its energy shortage. Let India sleep and enjoy with its new partner.

zara | 9 years ago | Reply @Nizam: Pervez hoodhbhouys stipid article to spread panic he wrote in dawn

BruteForce | 9 years ago | Reply @Nizam: I can help. http://www.dawn.com/news/1074169

"What people may not know is that the reactors will be based on a design known as the ACP-1000 that is still under development by this Chinese nuclear power company. In effect, Pakistanis are buying reactors for the Karachi site that so far exist only on paper and in computer programmes — there is no operating reactor in China based on this design...This means so far there is not even a complete design. Since the new Karachi reactors will be the first of a kind, no one knows how safe they will be or how well they will work. The 20 million people of Karachi are being used as subjects in a giant nuclear safety experiment."

Would you agree to buy a Car which exists only on paper? But, you are basically buying reactors which are basically controllued nuclear explosions and putting them near the most populous city in Pakistan and the economic heart. Here is more:

"An analysis undertaken two years ago, in 2011, by the science magazine Nature and Columbia University in New York showed that the nuclear reactor site in Karachi has more people living within 30km than any other reactor site in the world. It found that, in 2011, there were eight million Karachi citizens living within this distance of the reactor. All of Karachi falls within 40km of the reactor site. "

Here is more. http://www.princeton.edu/sgs/faculty-staff/zia-mian/Nuclear-Shadow-over-Karachi-Newsweek-2014.pdf

Nizam | 9 years ago | Reply @Mehmood Iqbal: Please link to where he says that Chinese reactors are unsafe.

:D | 9 years ago | Reply ni hao

Pakistani lover of China | 9 years ago | Reply China is a great country. I wish them the best of luck!

waqas saleem rana | 9 years ago | Reply well.... Not a very big news ... they are already signed agreements.... Chashma 3, chashma 4 and chashma 5 will be connecyed to national grid in 2016, 2017 and 2020 respectively.... The chasma 6 is only new project ... if we are going to start two 1000 , 1000MW projects in karachi and three reactors of 1000MW in Muzaffargarh... whose feasibility is ready and work is not yet started.... all we nead is to start the work on emergency basis.... and compel china to start new projects with pakistan.... India's agreement with America is not going to work because it doesn't fulfills the international laws nd it is not possible... we have just to move slow and steady..........!!!!

BruteForce | 9 years ago | Reply China is obliged by NSG to not to export reactors to non-NSG members. So till now it was using a loophole that it had signed an agreement to supply nuclear reactors at Chashma, Karachi before it joined NSG. It was called grandfathering the agreemet. But, how many reactors can one install in a single site? Is it safe? If one fails, it will take working reactors with it! China certainly cant build at other sites, that wont be allowed by NSG. Apart from that who will pay if there is a problem? Karachi is home to 20 MIllion people. There will most definitely be 10 Million casualties and millions killed by radiation poisoning alone. Pakistan is writing its own death warrant by building reactors so close to its Economic hub. Chinese reactors are untested. I just hope when the reactors blow up, India is not blamed.

Syed A. Mateen | 9 years ago | Reply I was expecting that US would be giving nuclear projects to Pakistan but Mr. Obama signed the nuclear projects with India. The other country was China to help Pakistan and according to my observation China came forward to give nuclear projects to Pakistan. Thank you People's Republic of China for cooperating with Government of Pakistan.

ABKhan | 9 years ago | Reply @Blithe: Ok Darbari-e-azam

SteveK9 | 9 years ago | Reply @Tamil Arasan: You are confused. China has 22 operating nuclear reactors and another 26 under construction, with plans for a massive expansion.

Alfa Romeo | 9 years ago | Reply All I would like to say is Pakistan may get those nuclear projects setup, but it should have enough safeguards like what India is doing. Firstly, the liability clause in case of accidents and blow ups, secondly, set it up in Non Seismic zones, thirdly its away from any terror infested areas and the people manning the nuclear reactors are adequately manned. Yes, Pakistan needs nuclear power especially considering power shortages. But it should be handled responsibly.

Blithe | 9 years ago | Reply @Bilal Kaleem: Please leave aside the destructive PTI politics when it comes to discussing issues of national interest

nabidad | 9 years ago | Reply @Chachoo: People like 'Tamil Arasan' always talk like that, so for that kind of people there is only thing to make them realised that they are wrong, just ignore them. China is all weather friend of Pakistan and will remain. Because both the countries tested each other in their difficult time.

Nabeel | 9 years ago | Reply MashALLAH.. Pakistan Zinadabad. regards; blog.hostpk.net

Mehmood Iqbal | 9 years ago | Reply @Masror Alam Read Professor Pervez Hoodbhoy. We don't want to be guinea pigs for untested Chinese nuclear reactors. Remember Chernobyl and Fukushima. This could turn Karachi into a death zone. Chinese will do anything to make money they sell us faulty and untested reactors if they can make money.

Burki | 9 years ago | Reply so this so called NSG is more than happy to babysit India with its nuclear ambitions but get its pants on fire when China tries to help Pakistan in the field of civil nuclear power generation sector. India has a proven track record of reneging its international obligations by stealing plutonium from Canadian supplied reactor right under the nose of IAEA to detnoate its first nuclear device, yet NSG has no problem with helping further build up dangerous capacities for this willfull violator.

zara | 9 years ago | Reply @Masror Alam: The news is by india today. Dont take it serious

Masror Alam | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan’s energy infrastructure is not well developed, rather it is considered to be underdeveloped and poorly managed. Currently the country is facing severe energy crisis. Despite of strong economic growth and rising energy demand during past decade, no serious efforts have been made to install new capacity of generation. Moreover, rapid demand growth, transmission losses due to outdated infrastructure, power theft, and seasonal reductions in the availability of hydro power have worsened the situation. Consequently, the demand exceeds supply and hence load-shedding is a common phenomenon through power shutdown. China's decision to install nuclear reactors will help Pakistan to eradicate massive power cuts.

Mamoo | 9 years ago | Reply @chachoo, I agree with you Chachoo.

Omar Sadiq | 9 years ago | Reply where were the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) when India was signing nuclear pacts with USA left and right??????

imran ghori | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan must increase cooperation with China and India.

Haris | 9 years ago | Reply I hope the feasibility team has included the risk of MQM burning down the nuclear plant for not providing bhatta on time... !

AsR | 9 years ago | Reply Happy to know that. Now expecting a bombardment of comments from jealous and nervous trolls from across the border.

Bilal Kaleem | 9 years ago | Reply What do I know is that the chinese are very generous at giving kickbacks.

Chachoo | 9 years ago | Reply @Tamil Arasan: China have more than 21 active nuclear power plants. So kindly take a look before commenting here.

Tamil Arasan | 9 years ago | Reply Well China may be using Pakistan for it's nuclear power projects...!! because China has not yet built any major nuclear power plants in mainland China but readily building so many projects in Pakistan...!!

Replying to X