ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is considering purchasing nuclear power plants to meet its growing energy shortages, the government said yesterday. The country is suffering from acute power shortages, and officials say there is a power deficit of up to 4,000 megawatt.
In recent months state-run utilities have switched off power for several hours a day across the country, though the situation improved toward the end of summer, as air conditioners are in less use.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani yesterday held a meeting with senior officials to discuss the possibility of buying nuclear plants. Gilani set up a committee of senior officials “to work out the modalities and financial arrangements before a formal decision is made on the purchase of nuclear energy plants,” his office said in a statement without giving further details.
A meeting of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), presided over by the prime minister, was held in Islamabad. Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen. Tariq Majeed, DG-SPD Lt. Gen. (retired) Khalid Qidwai, Minister for Defense Ahmed Mukhtar and other officials attended the meeting.
He also announced to form a committee for obtaining the purchase of atomic energy plants and satellite communication system and other matters. The committee includes deputy chairman Planning Commission, secretary finance, secretary foreign affairs, secretary water and electricity, and DG-Strategic Plans Division.
Pakistan has two nuclear power plants. Its first nuclear power plant was set up with Canadian help in 1972 and has a capacity of 137 megawatts.
The second nuclear power plant was built with the help of its long-time ally, China, in 1999 in Chashma, a town in the central Punjab province.
