ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) envisages to produce 8800 MW by year 2030 through nuclear power reactors.
Two nuclear power plants, 340MW each are under construction at Chashma and expected to be commissioned by 2016 with Chinese assistance.
Construction of these power plants became possible after a long- standing agreement, while three others nuclear power plants already commissioned in the country are performing well.
According to official sources,the allocation for PAEC is almost 11% of the total federal development budget estimated at Rs.360 billion for the financial year 2012-13. Official said a major chunk of the PAEC budget has been allocated to two nuclear power plants. “An amount of Rs 34.6 billion has been set aside for Chashma Nuclear Power Plants, C3 and C4.
The total cost of these two projects is Rs.190 billion which will be partially funded by Rs.136 billion Chinese loan. The government has so far spent Rs. 62.4 billion on the mega project having 660 megawatts generation capacity.
With Rs 34.6 billion additional spending, the government will be able to complete almost half of the work by June 2013,official said.
According to an official in Ministry of Science and technology, government is harmonizing the efforts made in the energy sector by different Ministries, departments and research centres by creating an ‘Energy Council’ with heads of relevant organizations.
The Council will be entrusted to advise on priority areas for Research and Development and management of resources and to fill the gaps.
Acquisition of technology for building nuclear power reactors through Research and development, as well as transfer of technology agreements is also in consideration, he said.