Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong on Saturday became the first Chinese envoy to have visited an operational nuclear power plant in Pakistan as development reflects the depth of trust and cooperation between two time-tested friends.
During his visit to K-2 and K-3 plants, designed and built by China, the ambassador emphasised the importance of expanding Pak-China strategic and bilateral cooperation, not only in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) but also in non-CPEC projects, particularly in power sector. Referring to ongoing negotiations for 1,200MW Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit 5 (C-5) in Mianwali, he expressed full support for its execution.The visit and remarks of Chinese ambassador are a source of inspiration and encouragement for people of Pakistan as the country remained a target of nuclear apartheid by so-called Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the influential members of which are providing both sensitive equipment and technologies to India but not willing to support legitimate civil nuclear power programme of Pakistan. As against this, China is the only country willingly offering assistance in execution of a plan by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) to increase share of nuclear power to the national energy mix as part of the overall government strategy to ensure energy security, dependability and generation of clean energy.
Unfortunately, like Pakistan’s overall nuclear programme, its civil nuclear projects also remained victims of adverse propaganda by some internal and external elements. Baseless propaganda was unleashed when plans were announced to initiate K-2 and K-3 in Karachi yet their completion and successful operation has effectively foiled designs of such elements and these plants are today contributing significantly to the national grid. Now that negotiations are underway for C-5 in Chashma, there are also disturbing reports of possible revision of some of the hydel and nuclear power projects on the plea that country already has surplus generation capacity.
In this backdrop, firm declaration of the Chinese envoy to support C-5 augurs well and we hope it will be executed as planned for long-term benefits of the country. We would also suggest that feasibility should be carried out for local manufacturing of nuclear power plants on small scale with the assistance of China.
