A state-controlled Chinese nuclear power company said yesterday it is in negotiations to construct another atomic reactor in Pakistan, the Wall Street Journal reported (see GSN, Aug. 27).
The China National Nuclear Corp. built Pakistan's chief atomic energy site at Chashma in the Punjab region. The nuclear firm is finishing work on a second reactor at the same location and has orders to construct two additional 300-megawatt reactors there.
"Both sides are in discussions over the CNNC exporting a one-gigawatt nuclear plant to Pakistan," company Vice President Qiu Jiangang said, though he did not provide more information.
Pakistan developed nuclear weapons outside of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and has largely been barred from the international atomic marketplace. China is a member of the 46-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which seeks to limit atomic exports to nations that have signed the nuclear arms accord.
India, Pakistan's longtime rival and nuclear-armed neighbor, did not immediately respond to the announcement. New Delhi has objected to Beijing's plans to build two 300-megawatt reactors at Chashma. U.S. officials have also said that deal would need a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group, though Washington has signaled it would not support such an allowance.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit would not discuss plans for a fifth reactor, though he said his government's atomic collaboration with China was nonmilitary in nature.
"The nuclear cooperation between the two countries are in accordance with international obligations and comes under [International Atomic Energy Agency] safeguards," Basit said (Jeremy Page, Wall Street Journal, Sept. 20).
A U.S. official said the latest deal would also require an exemption from the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Bloomberg reported.
"We would ask China as a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to live up to its commitments," said State Department spokesman Mark Toner.
Toner said Chinese officials had not notified Washington of their latest atomic plans with Pakistan (Nicole Gaouette, Bloomberg, Sept. 20).
The China National Nuclear Corp. built Pakistan's chief atomic energy site at Chashma in the Punjab region. The nuclear firm is finishing work on a second reactor at the same location and has orders to construct two additional 300-megawatt reactors there.
"Both sides are in discussions over the CNNC exporting a one-gigawatt nuclear plant to Pakistan," company Vice President Qiu Jiangang said, though he did not provide more information.
Pakistan developed nuclear weapons outside of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and has largely been barred from the international atomic marketplace. China is a member of the 46-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which seeks to limit atomic exports to nations that have signed the nuclear arms accord.
India, Pakistan's longtime rival and nuclear-armed neighbor, did not immediately respond to the announcement. New Delhi has objected to Beijing's plans to build two 300-megawatt reactors at Chashma. U.S. officials have also said that deal would need a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group, though Washington has signaled it would not support such an allowance.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit would not discuss plans for a fifth reactor, though he said his government's atomic collaboration with China was nonmilitary in nature.
"The nuclear cooperation between the two countries are in accordance with international obligations and comes under [International Atomic Energy Agency] safeguards," Basit said (Jeremy Page, Wall Street Journal, Sept. 20).
A U.S. official said the latest deal would also require an exemption from the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Bloomberg reported.
"We would ask China as a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to live up to its commitments," said State Department spokesman Mark Toner.
Toner said Chinese officials had not notified Washington of their latest atomic plans with Pakistan (Nicole Gaouette, Bloomberg, Sept. 20).
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