ID :
24593
Wed, 10/15/2008 - 16:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/24593
The shortlink copeid
Pak, China expected to sign civil nuclear deal
Islamabad, Oct 14 (PTI) Pakistan and China are
expected to sign a civil nuclear agreement during President
Asif Ali Zardari's maiden state visit to the Communist
nation, the country's envoy to Beijing said Tuesday.
Both countries have always supported the peaceful use
of civil nuclear energy and an agreement in this connection is
expected to be signed during the President's visit to China
which began Tuesday, Ambassador Masood Khan said.
The two countries will ink several agreements in the
fields of technology, agriculture and minerals. They will also
sign an investment protocol to their existing free trade
agreement to boost investments in Pakistan, he told Geo News
channel.
Though Khan did not give details of the proposed civil
nuclear pact, official sources were quoted by The Nation
newspaper as saying that a nuclear deal with China would be
the "main item" on Zardari's agenda.
An official told the newspaper that Zardari would seek
a nuclear deal with China to meet Pakistan's increasing energy
needs.
"What we need from our Chinese friends is the building
of new nuclear reactors with their help and indications are
already there that they will not disappoint us," the official
said.
The government led by Zardari's Pakistan People's
Party is under pressure from domestic political circles to
seek a civil nuclear deal with China to match the atomic pact
finalised between India and the U.S.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has urged the U.S.
to extend a similar deal to Pakistan and called on the world
community not to discriminate between Pakistan and India in
this regard.
Recent reports have suggested that Pakistan will seek
help from China for establishing a satellite communications
system and building two more atomic reactors at its Chashma
nuclear project. The project already has two power plants
built with Chinese assistance.
The two proposed nuclear reactors are expected to cost
over Rs 139 billion, including a foreign exchange component of
Rs 99.538 billion. Experts believe only an "all-weather ally"
like China could assist Pakistan in the nuclear sector at a
time when the country is grappling with a crippling economic
crunch.
The first nuclear reactor at the Chashma site now
generates 300 MW of electricity and the second reactor is
currently being completed. The two new reactors are expected
to be completed in eight years.
Pakistan also plans to set up a nuclear power fuel
complex at a cost of over Rs 51 billion to fabricate fuel to
be used in future nuclear power plants. Pakistani officials
have said the country needs nuclear fuel technology from
China to fabricate fuel locally.
Under its Energy Security Action Plan, Pakistan aims
to increase the share of nuclear power from one per cent to
5.4 per cent by creating the capacity to generate 8,800 MW of
nuclear energy by 2030. PTI RHL
expected to sign a civil nuclear agreement during President
Asif Ali Zardari's maiden state visit to the Communist
nation, the country's envoy to Beijing said Tuesday.
Both countries have always supported the peaceful use
of civil nuclear energy and an agreement in this connection is
expected to be signed during the President's visit to China
which began Tuesday, Ambassador Masood Khan said.
The two countries will ink several agreements in the
fields of technology, agriculture and minerals. They will also
sign an investment protocol to their existing free trade
agreement to boost investments in Pakistan, he told Geo News
channel.
Though Khan did not give details of the proposed civil
nuclear pact, official sources were quoted by The Nation
newspaper as saying that a nuclear deal with China would be
the "main item" on Zardari's agenda.
An official told the newspaper that Zardari would seek
a nuclear deal with China to meet Pakistan's increasing energy
needs.
"What we need from our Chinese friends is the building
of new nuclear reactors with their help and indications are
already there that they will not disappoint us," the official
said.
The government led by Zardari's Pakistan People's
Party is under pressure from domestic political circles to
seek a civil nuclear deal with China to match the atomic pact
finalised between India and the U.S.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has urged the U.S.
to extend a similar deal to Pakistan and called on the world
community not to discriminate between Pakistan and India in
this regard.
Recent reports have suggested that Pakistan will seek
help from China for establishing a satellite communications
system and building two more atomic reactors at its Chashma
nuclear project. The project already has two power plants
built with Chinese assistance.
The two proposed nuclear reactors are expected to cost
over Rs 139 billion, including a foreign exchange component of
Rs 99.538 billion. Experts believe only an "all-weather ally"
like China could assist Pakistan in the nuclear sector at a
time when the country is grappling with a crippling economic
crunch.
The first nuclear reactor at the Chashma site now
generates 300 MW of electricity and the second reactor is
currently being completed. The two new reactors are expected
to be completed in eight years.
Pakistan also plans to set up a nuclear power fuel
complex at a cost of over Rs 51 billion to fabricate fuel to
be used in future nuclear power plants. Pakistani officials
have said the country needs nuclear fuel technology from
China to fabricate fuel locally.
Under its Energy Security Action Plan, Pakistan aims
to increase the share of nuclear power from one per cent to
5.4 per cent by creating the capacity to generate 8,800 MW of
nuclear energy by 2030. PTI RHL
