ISLAMABAD, April 4: The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) has advised the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) to review the safety aspects of nuclear power plants in Karachi and Chashma with reference to site studies, safety systems, operators’ training, emergency power systems and off-site emergency preparedness plans.The PNRA said in a statement issued here on Monday that it would continue to study the accidents at Fukushima nuclear power plants after the recent earthquake and tsunami and the response of the Japanese and other regulatory authorities and might ask the PAEC to take additional measures.
It said the PAEC-operated plants met the requirements of national nuclear regulations and the international standards, and did not pose any radiation hazard to public or the environment.
Due to geographical differences between Pakistan and Japan, the likelihood that similar extreme natural events may occur in the vicinity of the country’s nuclear plants is quite small.
But it advised the PAEC to prepare itself for other extreme natural events or man-made accidents. “The PNRA will continue to verify that this preparedness is always maintained.”
The PNRA said it had offered immediate assistance to Japan through the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Response Assistance Network.
The PNRA is continuously performing environmental monitoring throughout the country to assess any change in the natural radioactivity level. So far, no change in the level has been observed.
The PNRA is hosting an international seminar in Islamabad on ‘nuclear safety and security challenges for the 21st century’ from April 21 to 23 for professionals working in the nuclear industry in different disciplines, including regulators, operators, designers and manufacturers.
The IAEA has drafted nuclear safety standards and circulated them to all member states, including Pakistan, to seek their views by the end of next month.
The PNRA is learnt to have set up an advisory committee to review the documents and see if the IAEA standards are applicable to developing countries, especially Pakistan.
The fifth review meeting of the contracting parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety is being held in Vienna from April 4 to 14.
Nuclear facilities of Pakistan were reviewed by the IAEA at the fourth review meeting held in 2008.
Pakistan signed the convention on Sept 20, 1994, and ratified it on Sept 30, 1997. In its report to the IAEA, the government informed the review meeting that it was taking appropriate measures to install and operate nuclear plants for generation of electricity and highest priority was accorded to safety.