China to cooperate with Pakistan in civilian nuclear technology


ISLAMABAD, April 25 (KUNA) -- China Friday announced that it will continue assisting Pakistan in its quest for civilian nuclear technology, a timely assurance that comes at the request of President Musharraf amid the country is plunging into energy crisis.
The visit Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said that peaceful civilian nuclear technology is a right of Islamabad and that Beijing, the time-test friend, will continue helping it in this regard.
"We think that Pakistan has a right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy", he said, adding that cooperation between the two countries in peaceful uses of nuclear energy is a great success, as we have undertaken some good projects in Pakistan.
The Chinese FM arrived here on Friday afternoon on a two-day visit, about a week after President Musharraf paid an official visit to China to seek Chinese assistance in at least four nuclear power plants to bridge the growing power demand and supply gap. According to report, China will finance setting up of four new nuclear power units 320MW to generate 1280MW power under the vision 2030. Two units of 320MW each will be set up in Chashma and two units will be established in Karachi port city.
The first phase project of Chashma Nuclear Plant was commissioned in September 2000. Chinese Company is already working on second phase of Chashma nuclear power plant that will be completed in 2011.
At present Pakistan is mainly depending on Hydel power generation that has dropped to 2000 MW power due to water shortages in the country. Pakistan is now looking towards wind, coal, and nuclear and solar resources to increase the power generation. Pakistan is said to face around 1400 MW power shortfall constantly by 2010.
Also, the Pakistani FM said that Pakistan will purchase anti-terror from China to fight terrorist activities. "China has indicated that it will be more than happy to supply this equipment to us, which will strengthen our arms in dealing with terrorist activities", said the minister without elaborating on the type of equipment.
"Beijing will further cooperate with Pakistan in dealing firmly with terrorists", said Chinese FM.

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Pakistan should also devote a larger portion of its funds to the development of wind power. It has a huge desert and open planes. There is a wind farm of 5 mills on the outskirts of my city and they power 40 houses EACH (some 200 houses) which in the US (and the amount of energy wasted here) is quite a good deal. Considering its far cheaper and safer than any other source of power (nuclear carries risk of accidents, hydel disrupts local ecology, solar is very expensive, and coal/oil/gas is very high in polution) it is the perfect source of power for Pakistan. It will decrease air polution in the city and can provide tremendous ammounts of energy to the nation on minimal investment (the amount of mills that could be built for the price of one nuclear power plant would in all likelyhood provide more energy than the that powerplant...not to mention being far safer and Pakistan wont need to depend on foreign gas/oil/coal/nuclear fuel).