Global Security Newswire

China and Pakistan are nearing completion of formal talks for an agreement that would allow Chinese firms to build a minimum of six new atomic energy facilities in the nuclear-armed South Asian nation, Kyodo News reported on Tuesday (see GSN, Nov. 15, 2011).

The potential agreement would have four atomic energy sites built in Karachi, one at Sukkur and no less than one more at the existing Chashma atomic energy complex, informed insiders with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission said.

The Chashma site already houses two operational 325-megawatt reactors built by Chinese firms. Another existing reactor at Karachi has outlived its operational life.

Two additional facilities are already being constructed at Chashma with Chinese support.

"We have firm plans to set up additional nuclear power plants with total capacity of 4,345 megawatts by 2023," one unidentified atomic commission source said.

Some members to international Nuclear Suppliers Group have raised objections regarding China's reactor dealings with Pakistan, which possesses atomic arms outside the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The 46 nation-export control group seeks to limit members' nuclear ties to those states that are in compliance with the nuclear nonproliferation regime.  Beijing has argued it should be able to maintain its nuclear cooperation with Islamabad as it predates China's 2004 into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (see GSN, March 9, 2011).

"We have an overarching agreement between China and Pakistan which predates China joining the NSG and this cooperation will continue in the years to come for peaceful purposes under [International Atomic Energy Agency] safeguards," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said.

"The world should not worry about it," Basit continued. "Rather they should be supportive of it because it's important for our growth and stability" (Kyodo News/Mainichi Daily News, Feb. 14).