KARACHI: The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission will undertake the feasibility study of the pilot areas along the Mekran coast for development during the next five to ten years for the utilisation of atomic energy for the generation of cheap power and conversion of sea water into fresh water.

The two prospective areas along the Mekran coast, which were considered to be promising, were the Porali basin, north of Sonmiani Bay about 60 miles from Karachi, and the Dasht Plateau, north of Gwadur adjoining the Iranian border. A meeting held yesterday under the chairmanship of Dr I.H. Usmani was of the view that PAEC should sponsor surveys to find out commercially exploitable mineral deposits and existence of fertile soil tracts which could be developed on the basis of availability of fresh water, after desalination and cheap electric power from a dual-purpose nuclear power station currently located along the Mekran coast.

Nearly three lakh acres in each of the two prospective areas could be fruitfully developed in case communications could be improved through the construction of ports and roads, and power and desalinated water were made available at economic prices. On the basis of economic feasibility of dual-purpose nuclear power-desalination plants already made in advanced countries, it appears that electricity from such plants can be generated at a cost of about five paisa per unit and water supplied at a rate of about Rs 1.50 toRs two per thousand gallons.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2015

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