Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

China Brushes Off Fears Over Reactor Sales to Pakistan

China Brushes Off Fears Over Reactor Sales to Pakistan

An original portion of Pakistan's Chashma Nuclear Power Plant. Beijing last week dismissed Western government concerns regarding Chinese plans to prepare two additional reactors at the facility (Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission photo). China rejected calls by Western governments last week to alleviate fears and supply further details regarding its intention to construct two new reactors at Pakistan's Chashma atomic energy complex, a pair of international relations insiders told Reuters on Wednesday (see GSN, Feb. 14).
"A number of countries asked questions and expressed concerns" during a meeting of the 46-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group in Seattle last Thursday and Friday, according to a government source (see GSN, June 25). The insider and a second informed individual said China had not signaled it was rethinking its policy on the Chashma project; Beijing adopted the same line at a 2011 NSG gathering in the Netherlands.
Nations including the United States have called on China, which has already completed two reactors at Chashma, to obtain permission from the Nuclear Suppliers Group to carry out further atomic plant construction in Pakistan. Arrangements for China to complete a third and fourth unit at the site predate the nation's NSG membership, Beijing has contended.

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