China to build two nuclear reactors in Pakistan: report


Afp April 29, 2010

BEIJING: China has agreed to build two new civilian nuclear reactors in Pakistan, a report said on Thursday, amid persistent concerns about the safety of nuclear materials in Pakistan.

Chinese companies will build at least two new 650-megawatt reactors at Chashma in Punjab province, the Financial Times said. China began building a reactor at Chashma in 1991 and broke ground on a second one in 2005, which is expected to be completed next year, it said.

A statement posted on the website of the China National Nuclear Corporation on March 1 said financing for two new reactors at Chashma was agreed by the two sides in February. A spokeswoman for the corporation, which oversees China's civilian and military nuclear programmes, said she was unaware of the deal when contacted by AFP on Thursday. "Our Chinese brothers have once again lived up to our expectations," the Financial Times quoted an unidentified Pakistani official as saying of the deal, which would help Pakistan cope with a crippling energy crisis."They have agreed to continue cooperating with us in the nuclear energy field."

US President Barack Obama convened a summit in Washington earlier in April that pledged renewed world efforts to secure and safeguard fissile materials from falling into the hands of militant groups. At the summit, Chinese President Hu Jintao said Beijing "firmly" opposed atomic weapons proliferation, while backing civilian uses.

The Financial Times quoted an expert as saying China likely felt emboldened to go ahead with the deal after the United States signed a civilian nuclear agreement with Pakistan's arch-rival India in 2008. The agreement facilitated nuclear cooperation between the world's two biggest democracies despite India's refusal to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

COMMENTS (3)

Murtaza Ali Jafri | 14 years ago | Reply What up to China! Gotta love them, they are the one ally we have that don't interfere in local politics. As long as we do right by our agreements, they couldn't care less.
Fahim Farooq | 14 years ago | Reply Primarily it needs to come china into pakistan to make help in the prevailing energy crises in pakistan. History revealed that china supported pakistan at every corner to help while US had always beeen given sweet candies to pakistan thus this is the time to wake up and should play as grave companion with China,,as the chinees nation now emerging as economic giant and also rendering over peace.
VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ