Two new nuclear power plants of 340MW each to be commissioned by 2016: Chairman PAEC

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) Dr, Ansar Parvez said that two nuclear power plants, 340MW each are under construction at Chashma and expected to be commissioned by 2016 with Chinese assistance under a long- standing agreement while three others nuclear power plants already commissioned in the country and performing very well.

 The Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission said this while addressing to the 56th session of General Conference of IAEA being held now a days in Vienna, Austria according to a press release issued by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC).

 "We feel that a well-regulated international exchange of personnel and technology at all levels is invaluable not for raising technical standards but also for fostering goodwill and mutual confidence amongst nations, which is one of the primary objectives of the IAEA", he said.

 The Chairman informed the conference that thousands of deserving cancer patients receive free or highly subsidized treatment at 18 nuclear medical centers across the country being run by the PAEC.

 Pakistan has been engaged in wide ranging programme to harness application of nuclear technology for socio-economic uplift of the country in a variety of ways in the health, agriculture, industry and energy sector, the chairman said.

 The Commission not only introduced the application of nuclear radiation in the agriculture sector but also contributed to the shift from the conventional agricultural system to the technology led system to sustain, enhance and protect crops.

 "The top most priority has always been the harnessing of nuclear energy for the generation of electrical power. For many years now, Pakistan has faced a severe electrical power shortage which has been hampering economic growth of the country", Dr. Ansar Parvez said.

 The nation's accessible conventional energy resources are very limited, and, therefore, the Commission (PAEC) has an obligation to build nuclear power plants to help alleviate the energy shortage crises, he said.

 The Commission has been given a target by the Government to have 8,800 MW of nuclear power installed by the year 2030. With no exceptions, all our nuclear power plants are under IAEA safe guards, he emphasized.

 We are signatories to a number of international conventions and treaties pertaining to nuclear safety and security. Pakistan is fully committed to participate in the related activities and programmes of the IAEA including the security and safety action plans, he said.

 The Chairman said that under a special programme, IAEA is assisting Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) in strengthening nuclear security regime in Pakistan through capacity building and establishment of nuclear security training centers and advanced physical protection labs.

 During the past year, we in Pakistan have also been actively engaged in absorbing the lessons of the traumatic Fukushima event. After carrying out extensive studies, we have identified a comprehensive set of safety retrofits to be carried out at our installations and have prioritized them. These enhancements, forming a part of our Fukushima Response Action Plan (FRAP), are now in various stages of implantation, the Chairman said.

 However, we are disappointed, to find even safety related equipments becoming victims of a restrictive and discriminatory export policy by some countries.

 This does not auger well for the IAEA goal of encouraging world-wide enhancement of safety standards that has been internationally proclaimed, he added.

 He emphasized that safety enhancements do not take place through pious intentions or noble words. They require specific actions, and in most instances, equipments.

 "It is disturbing that the importance of international nuclear cooperation even in the post Fukushima, world has yet to be realized when it comes to Pakistan", he said.

 "We do hope and expect, nonetheless, that the vendor countries will recognize that the present policy of restricting Pakistan's access to nuclear power technology on an entirely discriminatory basis is not only unjust, it is also futile and counter-productive, and wholly against the spirit of cooperation and openness that has been such a distinguishing hallmark of the global nuclear power enterprise", Dr. Ansar said.

 We look forward to the beginning of a new mutually beneficial era of non-discrimination, equitability and openness in the nuclear power domain, he said.