Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Pakistan may join Nuclear Suppliers’ Group in few years, says study
* Planning Commission study silent on NPT issue
By Fida Hussain
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is likely to become a member of Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) in the next few years, as the country has built up a critical base of manpower, technology and expertise in this sector, says a study by the Planning Commission.
According to the draft study, Pakistan has attained the ability to design and build small reactors and now plans to expand its existing base and initiate research in fast breeder reactors.
The study is silent on the issue of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which is yet to be signed by Pakistan. The NSG consists of NPT signatory countries.
The group governs the areas of nuclear exports and facilitates development of peaceful nuclear trade by providing means whereby obligations to facilitate peaceful nuclear cooperation can be implemented in a manner consistent with international nuclear non-proliferation norms.
The NSG consists of Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
According to the study, Pakistan’s current installed electricity generation capacity is 19,400 MW, 50.8 percent of which is gas based, 30 percent hydroelectric, 15.8 percent oil, 3.3 percent nuclear and 0.2 percent coal-based.
Pakistan plans to generate 8,800 MW from the nuclear source by 2030, the study says, adding that the government has already formulated an Energy Security Plan in this regard.
The demand for natural uranium will be 1,600 tonnes per year in 2030. Exploration and mining of uranium in Pakistan will be intensified to meet the projected requirements as far as possible.
The study says it is a matter of concern that the current known international resources of uranium are believed to be sufficient to fuel worldwide nuclear capacity requirements only up to 2050. However, the life of uranium resources can be extended by reprocessing spent fuel, which may happen by 2030, in the form of fourth generation fast breeder reactors, the study says.
It says nuclear power plants are attractive in the context of the future world energy scenario and the new designs are safer, but worries about waste management or proliferation still persist.
Pakistan has proposed a new regime whereby such plants are treated as any power plant being set up by the private sector. The private sector can build, operate and own these plants under full International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...0-1-2007_pg7_2
Pakistan may join Nuclear Suppliers’ Group in few years, says study
* Planning Commission study silent on NPT issue
By Fida Hussain
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is likely to become a member of Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) in the next few years, as the country has built up a critical base of manpower, technology and expertise in this sector, says a study by the Planning Commission.
According to the draft study, Pakistan has attained the ability to design and build small reactors and now plans to expand its existing base and initiate research in fast breeder reactors.
The study is silent on the issue of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which is yet to be signed by Pakistan. The NSG consists of NPT signatory countries.
The group governs the areas of nuclear exports and facilitates development of peaceful nuclear trade by providing means whereby obligations to facilitate peaceful nuclear cooperation can be implemented in a manner consistent with international nuclear non-proliferation norms.
The NSG consists of Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
According to the study, Pakistan’s current installed electricity generation capacity is 19,400 MW, 50.8 percent of which is gas based, 30 percent hydroelectric, 15.8 percent oil, 3.3 percent nuclear and 0.2 percent coal-based.
Pakistan plans to generate 8,800 MW from the nuclear source by 2030, the study says, adding that the government has already formulated an Energy Security Plan in this regard.
The demand for natural uranium will be 1,600 tonnes per year in 2030. Exploration and mining of uranium in Pakistan will be intensified to meet the projected requirements as far as possible.
The study says it is a matter of concern that the current known international resources of uranium are believed to be sufficient to fuel worldwide nuclear capacity requirements only up to 2050. However, the life of uranium resources can be extended by reprocessing spent fuel, which may happen by 2030, in the form of fourth generation fast breeder reactors, the study says.
It says nuclear power plants are attractive in the context of the future world energy scenario and the new designs are safer, but worries about waste management or proliferation still persist.
Pakistan has proposed a new regime whereby such plants are treated as any power plant being set up by the private sector. The private sector can build, operate and own these plants under full International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...0-1-2007_pg7_2
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