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Pakistan launches Chinese-built nuclear power plant

Pakistan officially opened on Thursday its Chinese-built second nuclear power plant at Chashma in central Punjab.

The inauguration was attended by a high-level 23-member delegation led by Chinese Minister for Science and Technology Liu Jibin.

Military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday lauded the Chinese assistance as "yet another manifestation of close friendship and co-operation that exists between the two countries."

"This important project will go a long way in meeting our fast growing energy requirements," Musharraf told Jibin ahead of the opening ceremony.

Contrary to earlier announcements, the 325 MW power plant was commissioned by Pakistan's Minister for Science and Technology Attaur Rehman instead of Musharraf.

Both Rehman and Jibin described the new nuclear plant as "a model for co-operation between the two countries."

Pakistan, which initially planned to build the plant indigenously in 1990, later approached China after unsuccessful attempts to construct it on its own.

Its first nuclear power plant was set up in Karachi in 1965 with the assistance of Canada. It has a generating capacity of 137 MW.

The Chashma nuclear plant has been constructed by seven Chinese companies and institutes. The Chinese assistance included designing, construction and manufacture and supply of equipment for the plant, a Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, release said.

PTI

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