BEIJNG, June 6: China on Monday announced that work on construction of 300 megawatt Chashma Nuclear Power Plant — Phase 2 will start by the end of this year, or early next year. Announcing the proposed plan at a news conference held here at the Foreign Ministry, Kang Rixin, General Manager of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), said the two countries have been successfully carrying out their cooperation in the power generating sector.

Pakistan is the only country in the world, with whom China was cooperating for power generation through the use of nuclear technology. He categorically stated that this cooperation is purely for peaceful purpose that aimed at taking part in Pakistan’s economic development. “We are strictly abiding by certain principles and rules, in setting up the power plant,” he added.

The two countries have already signed a contract for 300 MW Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Phase-II. It is hoped that the second phase will be completed within six years.

The CNNC has already helped Pakistan develop 300MW Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Phase-I that started operation in June 2000. “Its performance is in line with all the standards of commercial nuclear power plant.

Mr Kang said China nuclear energy cooperation with its foreign counterparts are being carried out under safeguards put in place by the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Under an agreement, signed recently, China will provide $150 million to Pakistan for expansion of Phase-II Chashma power plant. It will be the part of preferential buyers credit of $500 million to be provided by the Chinese government for investment through Chinese companies.

The CNNC will take an open attitude and dedicate itself to the development of China’s nuclear power and the exchanges and cooperation with the international nuclear sector with the goal to jointly develop power, improve nuclear fuel technologies and make nuclear technologies benefit the people on a border scale, Mr Kang added.

He went on to add: “To improve the ability of nuclear fuels to guarantee the rapid development of China’s nuclear power, CNNC will strive to upgrade the technologies level and producing capability of the nuclear fuel recycling system and satisfy the demand for nuclear fuels in the process of rapid development of nuclear power.”—APP