ISLAMABAD, July 21: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) is meeting here on July 26 under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz to approve 18 development projects worth Rs64 billion , including the Rs51 billion Chashma Nuclear Power Plant-2.

Officials told Dawn here on Tuesday that the 350mw Chashma-2 was an important project involving Rs34 billion foreign financing which was likely to be provided by China. The government is hoping to secure a soft loan from China whose engineers and technical staff will also be participating in the manufacturing of the nuclear power plant.

Chashma-1 of 350mw capacity was also built with the active financial and technical assistance from the Chinese government. The Chashma-2 project envisages a gross capacity of 350mw and a net capacity of 300mw. It comprises nuclear steam supply system, a turbine generation set and associated auxiliaries including electrical, mechanical and civil work.

The project also envisages 'technology transfer' from China with the ultimate aim that the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) would be 'self-sufficient' on all aspects of designing, installation, construction and operation of the plant. The project will be installed adjacent to the Chashma-1 unit.

Sources said that the government had also allowed the PAEC to increase the local production of mechanical equipment and sophisticated components and parts required for the new nuclear power plants, including the Chashma-2.

The main objective of the project is to provide design and development facilities of fabrication-based mechanical equipment for the "classified projects of the PAEC and strategic projects of the country".

According to an official estimate and assessment of the Chinese supplier of the Chashma-2 project, the PAEC would be able to design and produce more than 200 equipment with the existing facilities. The project shall substantially increase indigenization share of fabrication-based mechanical equipment.

"The international ban and restrictions on the supply of equipment and machinery for our national objectives justify granting top priority to the project so as to march fast on the road leading to indigenization and local manufacturing in all areas of the engineering and manufacturing," a source said.

The Ecnec is also likely to approve the NWFP community infrastructure development project, expansion of educational training programmes in Northern Areas, Rohri Canal Hydropower project, Mahchi Canal Hydropower project, Pakpatan hydropower project, Addition of 500 KV Rawat Transformer project, 220 KV Grid Station at Khuzdar, Reproductive Health Project in Punjab, BMR of Pakistan Industrial and Technical Assistance project, Upgradation of Plastic Technology Centre at Karachi, Second TV Channel for education project, Lyari Expressway Resettlement Project in Karachi, Basic Urban Services Project at Southern Punjab, NWFP Urban Development project, Expansion and Improvement of Telecom Facilities in Northern Areas, Procurement of Equipment for Inspection, Testing, Repair and Assessment and Strength of Residual Life of Bridges - improvement programme, Widening and Remodelling of Roads, Intersections from Islamabad to GOR, Rawalpindi, and Enhancement of Training Capabilities of construction machinery training institute in Islamabad.