Pak plans to seek fuel technology from China for new N-plants By Rezaul H. Laskar

Islamabad, Sep 24 (PTI) In an apparent bid to counter the
Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal, Pakistan plans to seek fuel
technology from China for 10 new atomic power plants it
intends to set up over the next two decades.
During a high-level meeting, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza
Gilani approved the construction of two new nuclear plants at
Chashma in Punjab province, sources told P.T.I., adding these
plants are expected to be built with Chinese assistance.
The September 19 meeting attended by top officials of the
military and Strategic Plans Division, the body that oversees
the country's nuclear arsenal, had drawn up plans to acquire
new nuclear plants and a satellite communications system.
The Chashma complex, located about 200 k.ms. southwest of
Islamabad, already has two atomic power plants – one that is
functional and other that is expected to be completed in 2011.
Pakistan plans to build 10 nuclear power plants at six
sites across the country in the next 22 years and President
Asif Ali Zardari will seek fuel technology from China for
future atomic plants during his forthcoming visit to that
country, 'The News' daily reported on Wednesday.
The plants are aimed at generating 8,800 M.W. of nuclear
energy in the next two decades, a senior government official
said.
The six sites selected for the new plants are
Qadirabad-Bulloki link canal near Qadirabad Headworks, Dera
Ghazi Khan canal near Tuansa barrage, Taunsa-Punjnad canal
near Multan, Nara canal near Sukkur, Pat feeder canal near
Guddu and Kabul river near Nowshera, the report said.
Pakistan also plans to establish a nuclear power fuel
complex at a cost of Rs. 51.2 billion to locally fabricate
fuel to be used in future nuclear plants.
Authorities have also drawn up plans to train manpower
needed for the nuclear programme. A capacity building
programme had been launched at a cost of Rs. 491.42 million,
including a foreign exchange component of Rs. 166.70 million,
for this purpose, the official told the daily.
About 200 to 300 professionals are needed for each new
plant and another 600 to 800 professionals are required for
project management, design, engineering construction and
installation of nuclear plants, the official said.
"The currently available manpower for this purpose is
less than 150 persons," the official said. The selected
professionals will also be trained for competency in the
Chinese language to enable them to communicate with vendors
and manufacturers in China, he said.
The Pakistani professionals will be provided some
on-the-job hands-on training in the Chinese nuclear industry.
Following progress in the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal,
Pakistan has stepped up efforts to acquire atomic technology
and know-how to maintain parity with its neighbour. During a
visit to the U.S. in July, Prime Minister Gilani demanded a
nuclear deal similar to the one with India.
"There should be no preferential (treatment), there
should be no discrimination. And if they want to give civilian
nuclear status to India, we would also expect the same for
Pakistan too," he had then said. PTI RH