China to Build Nuclear Reactors in Pakistan

China to Build Two Nuclear Reactors in Pakistan, FT Reports
April 29, 2010, 2:45 AM EDT
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e-mail this story print this story digg this save to del.icio.us add to Business Exchange April 29 (Bloomberg) -- China has agreed to build two civilian nuclear reactors in Pakistan, the Financial Times reported, citing Chinese companies and unnamed government officials in Beijing and Islamabad.

The Chinese government gave approval for the construction of at least two 650-megawatt reactors in Chashma in Punjab province, according to the report. The FT didn’t say the agreement was for which phase of construction.

China’s accord to build the reactors in Pakistan heightened concerns about the safety of nuclear equipment in the South Asian nation, which is battling Taliban militants in the northwest. U.S. President Barack Obama won commitments from 46 nations, including China and Pakistan, to lock down nuclear material and keep it out of the hands of terrorists after a two- day summit in Washington ended April 14.

China and Pakistan signed an agreement to finance two 340- megawatt nuclear reactors in Chashma in February after an initial accord for the construction of the plants was agreed in 2008, China National Nuclear Corp. said in a statement on its Web site on March 1.

The 340-megawatt reactors are to be built under the third and fourth phase of the Chashma project, according to the March statement. The Chinese company, China’s biggest operator of nuclear reactors, constructed the first two reactors in Chashma.

The accord also puts China at odds with India. The two nations, which fought a war in 1962, are trying to boost relations and end years of mistrust and disagreements that include Chinese construction in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

Chen Xibo, spokesman for China National Nuclear, couldn’t be reached on his office and mobile phone for comment. Qin Zhijun, the head of the nuclear power department at the National Energy Administration, China’s top energy planning body, didn’t answer calls to his office telephone.

--Chua Baizhen. Editors: Ang Bee Lin, Ryan Woo.