Pakistan seeks 4-6 additional nuclear power plants from China
Dated 22/4/2006
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Rawalpindi: After ordering two nuclear power plants from China, Pakistan could seek four to six additional ones at a cost of about USD 6.5 billion, a media report has said.
Quoting informed sources, Pakistani daily 'The Dawn' said President Pervez Musharraf, during his proposed visit to Beijing in June, "would seek four to six more nuclear power plants, costing about 6.5 billion, from China in addition to the two".
Islamabad has already placed orders with China for two nuclear plants at a cost of 1.2 billion dollars. Together, these plants would help Pakistan meet its pressing need of 8,800 megawatts of electricity by 2030, it said.
"Pakistan has been assured that its energy needs will be met by China to a reasonable extent and the matter is expected to be finalised during President Pervez Musharraf's visit to Beijing in June," the daily said.
It said Musharraf "would brief the Chinese leadership about the US attitude of not treating Pakistan on par with India where civilian use of nuclear technology was concerned".
The US, the report said, was also "indirectly exerting pressure" on China through the nuclear suppliers group not to consider supplying more than two nuclear plants to Pakistan "because of the alleged involvement of some senior level Pakistani scientists".
It quoted the sources as saying that China had also agreed to supply "latest military technology" to help improve value addition, accuracy and range of Pakistan's weaponry.
"A number of visits were currently being finalised by the two governments to exchange military delegations to assess Pakistan's urgent military requirement", it said.
