China's move to supply reactors to Pak draws mixed reactions

China to supply 2 ACP 1000 nuclear reactors worth $9.6 bn to Pakistan

China’s move to supply two more nuclear reactors worth $9.6 billion to Pakistan has evoked mixed reactions in the Indian nuclear industry.

Indian nuclear experts believe China’s move to supply the two ACP 1,000 reactors is expected to be governed by a previous agreement between the two nations, according to which China would supply the first two reactors for the Chasma nuclear power project in Pakistan.

S K Jain, chairman of Indian Atomic Industrial Forum and former chairman and managing director of Nuclear Power Corp, said India should not be concerned about the move as long as the supply was endorsed by the Nuclear Suppliers Group and was under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency. S K Malhotra, spokesman of the Department of Atomic Energy, agrees. “If the supply of reactors by China to Pakistan is for peaceful purposes, India should not be concerned. But if it is for non-peaceful purposes, India has its own deterrent programme to counter it,” Malhotra said.

S K Sharma, former Atomic Energy Regulatory Board chairman, however, said it was of paramount importance that international trade was carried out strictly, by following the commitments by all parties concerned under various treaties and agreements. “This is all the more essential when the deals involve supply of hardware and technology related to nuclear energy, given the possibility of the dual use of nuclear technology. Thus, the proposed supply of nuclear power plant units by China to Pakistan, which may superficially appear inconsequential, is violative of international trade norms, as it is not in conformity with the guidelines of the NSG, of which China is a member,” he said.
 

According to the information released by the China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGNPC) and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC),  they are keen to involve in nuclear power projects in North America, Europe, South America, and the Middle East in addition to Pakistan. China has nuclear cooperation agreements with at least sixteen countries, including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Iran, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Switzerland, Vietnam, UK, US and, most recently, with Saudi Arabia.