NEWS

2nd Pak N-plant goes under IAEA safeguards

November 25, 2006 17:17 IST

The International Atomic Energy Agency has unanimously approved a safeguards agreement for Pakistan's Chashma Nuclear Power Plant, Unit-2.

A similar safeguards agreement is in place for the plant's first unit.

''The approval of the agreement is a success for Pakistan and a recognition of its non-proliferation commitments,'' foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam said on Saturday.

CHASNUPP-2 is part of Pakistan's Energy Security Plan, which looks to increase its nuclear power generation from the current 425 MW to 8,800 MW by 2030.

The plant, with a capacity to produce 330 MW of electricity, is being constructed with China's assistance.

The first plant, which went critical in 2000, was also built with Chinese assistance.

Chinese President Hu Jintao, currently in Pakistan, on Friday described energy cooperation between the two countries as one of the important components of their relationship and said that collaboration in peaceful uses of the nuclear energy would continue.

''Pakistan is one of the only three non-NPT member states that enjoy the right of concluding such a safeguards agreement. The approval of the agreement also signifies the differentiated nature of the IAEA's safeguards system,'' Aslam said.

She said Pakistan had already placed under the IAEA safeguards two research reactors and two nuclear power plants.

''We have been fulfilling its obligations with respect to these agreements and look forward to continued cooperation with the IAEA within the framework of the applicable safeguards agreements in the future as well,'' she stated.

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