Dawn reports, The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) has been assigned a special task by the government to set up 13 new nuclear power plants to generate 8800 MW of power in the next 25 years with a view to meet growing requirements of the industrial sector.
Informed sources told Dawn here on Thursday that when work on the 300-MW Chashma Nuclear Power Plant-2 had started in May last, the PAEC authorities were directed to accelerate their efforts to install 13 more nuclear power plants both with local and foreign financial and technical support. Each plant would roughly have a capacity of 600-700 MW.
Chashma-2 will be completed in 2011 at a revised cost of $850 million for which Chinese were mainly providing financial and technical support. Chashma-1 was also built with Chinese assistance and was currently producing about 1400 MW of electricity at 95 per cent plus capacity, which sources claimed, was one of the highest in the world.
Sources said that PAEC was expecting to establish 13 new nuclear power plants mostly through indigenous efforts, especially due to the transfer of technology being received from Chinese for Chashma-2. The PAEC is expected to be self-sufficient in all aspects of designing, installation, construction and operations of the proposed nuclear power plants.
Can someone please tell me, where the heck is PAEC getting all this pull for financial credit from all these foreign countries who are helping set up our so called future civil infrastructure. What’s the catch here? What are we giving back to China that they are helping us out like this?
Very Interesting but Many QuestionsThe issue of Nuclear Power is very interesting . I am a total supporter of Nuclear Power but the only reason I am against it currently is because most are waiting for “4th Generation Nuclear Power” (http://www.ne.doe.gov/home/nuclearnewsart.html) which will be much more economically competitive. The problem is it not scheduled to develop until 2030…I suppose the goal is to be more self-reliant whenever any country decides to go the Nuclear Power route.
Nuclear Power is very big business and its not suprising that Pakistan is getting a lot of financial support (loans) for them…this is BIG business.
Hopefully Pakistan will be getting the most advanced new Nuclear Plants because the old “2nd Generation Nuclear Plants” are not economically viable at all.
But we also have to remember it takes a long long long time for build just one Nuclear Plant…I cant even imagine how long it will take to build over a dozen of them one at a time.
RE: Very Interesting but Many QuestionsEnergy in general is very big business. For 3rd world countries, it essential to have enough of it to make good progress.
If the PAEC reaches it’s goal of acquiring enough knowledge to build nuclear power plants indigenously, then i think we have no problems getting enough man power to start building power plants in parallel.
FINALLY!! THANK YOU!!!BLOODY THANK YOU!!! FINALLY!!!
I’ve been wanting this damn country to go to nuclear power for ever, when developed countries dont give a shit about the environment, why the hell should Pakistan care if it causes a nuclear disaster or two?
I want my power no matter what the environmental impact of cost to human life!
I also want my power to be cheap!
Big Sexy’s Got Cha Numba!
RE: Very Interesting but Many QuestionsIt’s awesome to see we are going nuclear with energy and put an end to the energy crisis!
The answer to your question (What does China stand to gain). They are investing heavily in us and this is awesome news!
Pakistan hasn’t seen much investment in infrastructure and this lack of long term planning is why we have failed to progress while others around us make a steady climb. If the array corrupt politicians this country has seen, had thought beyond their term we would have seen far greater progress.