The News, March 26, 2005
Export embargoes affected
N-programme: Dr Ishfaq
By Muhammad Anis
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has suffered unjustly under export embargoes on its nuclear power programme. This was stated by Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Strategic Programme, while addressing the IAEA Regional Meeting on "Impact of New IAEA Regulations on Safety Management of Present and Future Nuclear Power Plants, Especially Severe Accidents" here on Friday.
The meeting was organised by PAEC in collaboration with IAEA. PAEC Chairman Parvez Butt was also present on the occasion. However, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad said that due to the untiring efforts of PAEC, CHASNUPP-1 went into commercial operation four years back and another unit — the 300MW C-2 — has been contracted to be in operation in this decade.
He said that under very adverse conditions, Pakistan continues to operate its nuclear power plants consistent with international safety standards. "I appeal to the senior experts from IAEA that in addition to their valuable technical advice, they may exercise their influence to help Pakistan in its efforts to develop nuclear power," he said.
He pointed out that Pakistan’s nuclear power plants are under IAEA safeguard regulations and Pakistan has a perfect record of complete safeguard compliance of these plants. Dr. Ishfaq lauded the efforts of IAEA for its sincere efforts to help countries like Pakistan by promoting regional and international cooperation and for propagating the framework of global safety culture through implementation of its nuclear safety standards.
He observed that in the wake of irreversible global warming, it is nuclear energy alone which offers a viable and sustainable solution to the looming disaster predicted by the International Panel on Climate Change. "Nuclear energy is a proven technology, non-polluting, safe and cost-competitive," Dr. Ishfaq said.
In his welcome address, PAEC Chairman Parvez Butt stated that PAEC with 34 years of safe and successful operation of nuclear power plants is poised to produce more than 8400MW assigned to it by the government, thanks to the development of infrastructure and indigenous facilities by PAEC for this purpose.
He said that PAEC demonstrated its capabilities to operate nuclear power plants efficiently and safely as is evident from attaining the 94 per cent availability factor for CHASNUPP-1, which is one of the highest in the world.
"The fruits of our indigenous capabilities in the areas of design, testing techniques and fabrication facilities and to install and operate nuclear power plants will be our tangible asset when we embark upon the ambitious nuclear electricity generation in the coming years," he said.
The PAEC chairman said that they look forward to potential partners who are ready to build and operate nuclear power plants in Pakistan with equity sharing in designated zones called ‘Nuclear Power Parks’. "These plants owned by the foreign partners will pose no nuclear proliferation concern as they will be operated under international safeguards," he said.
Earlier, IAEA expert Povilas Vaisnys — in his remarks regarding the proceedings of the one-week IAEA Regional Meeting on Safety of Nuclear Power Plants — said that IAEA shared the values, problems, concerns and objectives of the nuclear community for safe operation of nuclear power plants and would continue to provide its input for this purpose.
No comments:
Post a Comment