One of the significant results of the president’s visit to China is the signing of a civilian nuclear co-operation agreement for the setting up of two more nuclear power plants—CHASNUPP-3 and CHASNUPP- 4.

To meet country’s growing energy needs, the government also wants to develop nuclear power generation. From existing net 400 MW of nuclear power generation capacity, the Energy Security Action Plan envisages 8,800 MW by 2030. If that happens, the share of nuclear power in total energy mix will increase from present less than two to six per cent in 22 years.

Currently, there are two nuclear energy power plants connected to national grid. Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP) of 125 MW net installed capacity, de-rated at 100 MW capacity, has been refurbished indigenously to provide electricity until 2017, on having achieved safe completion of its 30-years design life a few years back. The second plant, Chashma Nuclear Power Plant unit-1 (CHASNUPP-1), of 300 MW net output has completed eight years of commercial operations.

A third power plant of 300 MW net capacity, known as CHASNUPP-2, is under construction, again on turnkey basis, at Chashma (Mianwali), with Chinese help. The plant, which is estimated to cost $860 million including Chinese loan of $350 million, is scheduled to be operational by 2011-12. There is no progress on other planned nuclear power projects however, though, according to the plan, nuclear power generation is to increase by 900 MW additionally by the year 2015 and by another 1,500 MW by 2020. The details of phased-out programme is are under:

It was planned to construct 10-12 more nuclear power plants of different capacities in the short- and medium-term. For the purpose, necessary survey of the prospective sites along the Indus River, the Arabian Sea coast and the neighboring Gulf coast was undertaken. Consequently, the government has selected six sites including i) Qadirabad-Bulloki link canal near Qadirabad Headworks, ii) Dera Ghazi Khan canal near Taunsa Barrage, iii) Taunsa-Punjnad canal near Multan, iv) Nara canal near Sukkur, v) Pat Feeder canal near Guddu and vi) Kabul River near Nowshera. Due diligence and site investigations were carried out and feasibility studies approved. These sites were identified in addition to expanding the power generation complexes at Chashma and Karachi.

Earlier, China had offered to extend further cooperation in nuclear power generation, with the understanding that the additional units would be latest version of CHASNUPP-2, of same technology and module in the first phase of the plan. The two sides also decided that module net capacity of these units would be increased, in the next phase, from 300 MW to 600 MW. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had offered in April 2005 to support our nuclear development plans. The offer was renewed by President Hu Jintao while on visit to Islamabad in November 2006.

The study of later events reveal that while the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) did its homework well, tunnel vision of the Planning Commission, or vested interest, hampered progress. First, the commission decided to increase module capacity from the agreed 300 MW to 1,000 MW, starting from the initial unit. The Chinese have not yet mastered the technology of a 1,000 MW module nuclear power plant and therefore declined to export to Pakistan.

Second, possibilities of procurement of nuclear power plant based on technology from other foreign suppliers were explored. A delegation led by the deputy chairman of the commission visited the US to seek technology and know-how to develop nuclear energy, knowing fully that it would not be forthcoming from the western sources. And it did not. Later, Republic of Korea was contacted and delegations exchanged, but again without any fruitful result, as the idea of international tendering was suggested by Pakistan. Thus, implementation of nuclear power development plan ran into snags from the beginning. Now it seems improbable to catch up the time lost.

Eventually, Pakistan had to re-establish its contact with China. On September 19, 2008, Prime Minister Gilani decided to work out modalities and financial arrangements for purchase of additional nuclear power plants from China. The revised plan initially includes four units, each of 300 MW net capacity, two to be set up at Chashma site, to be known as CHASNUPP-3 and CHASNUPP-4 and remaining two at Karachi.

Sindh has allocated 600 acres of land for the proposed KANUPP-2 and KANUPP-3 that would be located near the old complex of KANUPP-1 at Hawkesbay, Karachi. Construction period for each unit is estimated to be seven years whereas life of a nuclear power plant will be about 40.

Nuclear power is said to be dependable, relatively inexpensive and clean air energy. Advanced-design nuclear power plants are safer, more economical and efficient. For these reasons nuclear energy is regaining stature as a key energy source globally, particularly in the US and China. Effective and sustainable development of nuclear power generation essentially requires Pakistan having its own resources for design, engineering and manufacturing of nuclear power plants, related R&D activities and facilities for fuel supply.

The PAEC has moved in this direction. Nonetheless, there are impediments in strengthening indigenous capabilities for manufacturing and supply of machinery, equipment, accessories, parts and components, etc to achieve optimal local content. This requires transfer of technology to Pakistan in a big way.

The last care-taker government had taken initiative, in March 2008, to pool up resources of public sector engineering industries, like Heavy Mechanical Complex (HMC) at Taxila and Telephone Industries of Pakistan (TIP) at Haripur, under the umbrella of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD).

The government has recently reversed the decision, which is not considered prudent. It needs to restore previous arrangements of utilising existing infrastructure of engineering sector for setting up nuclear power plants.

The writer is former chairman of the State Engineering Corporation.