KARACHI, Nov 26: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif performed on Tuesday the groundbreaking of the country’s largest nuclear power plant and announced that six similar projects were in the pipeline which would make N-energy the key source of power and ultimate panacea for the power crisis.

“I am happy to announce about the information I have received that six more sites have been identified where similar projects could be set up. Our experts are busy in examining the exact information about the energy potential there,” he said with a beaming face.

“We’ll take all such projects on priority. I am for all-out help to the endeavours which help in our quest to end energy shortage,” he said after launching the Coastal Power Project K-2 and K-3, which will generate 2,200MW by 2019.

These are part of a string of energy projects which include wind power generation of 2,500MW, the Central Asia-South Asia project of 1,000MW and Tarbela-V extension project by 2017.

Work has been initiated on the Pakistan Power Park at Gadani which will have 10 coal-based projects of 660MW each. Besides there are plans to import LNG to reduce gas loadshedding from next year.

The World Nuclear Association has estimated the cost of the new project at nearly $10 billion.

The prime minister said a substantial foundation would be laid during the coming year for the Nuclear Energy Vision 2050 that envisaged generation of about 40,000MW.

He said uninterrupted power was key to development and “we have resolved to realise this dream”.

The launching of the project was “one of the first steps towards the goal of a Pakistan free of loadshedding”, he said.

The prime minister praised China’s leaders for always helping Pakistan in its hour of need.

“I cannot forget that the contract for the first nuclear power plant of Chinese origin, built at Chashma, was signed by my first government.”

He said: “It was not without a reason that China gave me the privilege to visit it immediately after our government was formed.”

He said Pakistan would welcome investments by Chinese companies and would facilitate them.

He said he dreamt of seeing Karachi as one of the world’s leading port cities and business capitals.

“Karachi has immense potential to compete with Asian cities like Hong Kong, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and our endeavour is to cash in on its potential.”

He said it was his government’s responsibility to assist the Sindh government in restoring the glory of the metropolis.

“I want to see electricity, gas and water in every home. It is our duty to provide essential services to our people, which they ought to have had many years ago,” he said.

“I want to see a secure, democratic and tolerant Pakistan. A Pakistan where everyone gets equal opportunities, where business flourishes; a corruption-free Pakistan where one gets one’s due.”

He also spoke about the construction of Diamer-Bhasha and Dasu dams simultaneously, besides the Bunji dam. These dams will have combined power generation capacity of 15,000 MW from the Indus River.

“We are exploring all vistas -- from hydel and nuclear to coal, wind and solar potentials,” he said.

He congratulated the Strategic Plans Division and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission on the groundbreaking of the fifth power project.

Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif, Chinese Ambassador Sun Wei Dong and PAEC Chairman Dr Ansar Parvaiz attended the ceremony.