Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has inaugurated 340 MW Chashma-3 nuclear power plant in Mianwali.Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister described completion of C-3 as another milestone towards the journey to eliminate the menace of load shedding from the country.He said the project is reflective of closer cooperation between Pakistan and China in science and technology.  He said this cooperation is also beginning of a new era of development in the region. The Prime Minister expressed the confidence that Chashma-IV nuclear power plant would also become operational before its deadline of mid next year.  He expressed pleasure that Chashma two and three power plants are most efficient plants in the country providing more than 600 MW of electricity to the national grid.Nawaz Sharif appreciated Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) for its efforts for self reliance in fuel fabrication and said his Government would extend every possible assistance to the Commission to help overcome the shortage of electricity in the country.The Prime Minister referred to the generation target of 8800 MW of nuclear energy by 2030 and urged the Commission to accept the challenge of producing more than the target and play its full role in the development of the country.He said there has been marked reduction in load shedding during the last three years and as pledged, the menace of load shedding would be over in 2018.  He said generation of additional 2200 MW of electricity through K-II and K-III would contribute towards this effort.The Prime Minister urged PAEC to take all possible measures to strengthen safety of existing and future power plants as per international standards.  He expressed satisfaction that Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority has an effective mechanism to ensure safety of all plants.  The Prime Minister thanked China for extending cooperation in nuclear field and said the two countries are also actively cooperating in many other areas including construction of roads, motorways, airports and up gradation of Pakistan Railways. He said many projects have been initiated under CPEC and their impact is now visible.  China’s cooperation with Pakistan in nuclear energy is reflective of strategic relations between the two countries.  With the completion of Chashma-3, cooperation will strengthen further with Pakistan in peaceful uses of nuclear energy.  Nuclear power plants in Pakistan is playing vital role in economic development of Pakistan.  The Energy Security Plan 2005 envisaged meeting crippling energy shortages and growing demand. Thanks to the will and determination of PAEC and willingness of China to extend necessary cooperation, the target of 8800 MW is in sight. PAEC is now contributing about 1200 MW to the national grid and this would increase to 1540 MW when C-4 becomes operational early 2017. Work on K-2 and K-3 in Karachi is also in progress, which would add 2200 MW of electricity to the grid. Completion of all these nuclear power plants would lead to a total generation capacity of over 6500 MW. It would also be in the long-term interest of the country if, apart from fuel fabrication, measures are taken for indigenous production of small scale nuclear power plants to serve the needs of the energy in the country.
