By IRNA
Islamabad : President Pervez Musharraf, who embarked on a 6-day state visit to China on Thursday, said he would seek Chinese help to build more nuclear power plants in the country.
Currently China is building second nuclear power plant at Chashma, 280 kilometers south-west of Islamabad, in the eastern Punjab province.
“With 300 Mega Watt Chashma power project already in place and work underway on Chashma-II we will also have talks on the costing of Chashma-III and Chashma-IV as well as discussing a future 1000 MW project,” President Musharraf told reporters before his departure for China.
The construction of Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit-1 (CHASNUPP-1), the second nuclear power plant in Pakistan, was started in 1992 with the help of China. It has been in commercial operation since September 2000.
The construction of Chashma Nuclear Power Project Unit-2 (CHASNUPP-2) started after the ground breaking ceremony on April 8, 2005.
CHASNUPP-1 is a two-loop PWR plant with gross output of 325 MWe & net output of 300 MWe and life span of 40 years.
“I would exchange views with the Chinese leadership to discuss ways and means to boost cooperation in the energy sector,” President Musharraf said.
He said Pakistan is also planning to establish one thousand megawatt nuclear power plant in future and he will hold discussions about this project as well.
China is a major source of investment, trade and defence for Pakistan. Bilateral trade between the two countries has touched US 6.5 billion dollars.
Pakistan and China signed a free trade pact in 2006 and hope to raise two-way trade to $15 billion within the next five years.
This week, a Shanghai shipyard launched the first of four F- 22P frigates to be delivered to Pakistan.
The fourth and last vessel will be completed at a Karachi shipyard in 2013.
The Pakistan Air Force has inducted into its fleet a fighter aircraft, called JF-17 Thunder, that is co-produced with China.
The President said that he would hold talks with the Chinese leadership on every facet of the broad-based relations between the two countries including cooperation in the establishment of three more nuclear power plants.
To a question, he said Pakistan and China enjoy close relations and he will have an all inclusive talks with Chinese leaders on bilateral cooperation and regional issues.