On Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the groundwork for the 1200-megawatt Chashma-5 nuclear power facility in Mianwali.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that Pakistan and China have a thirty-year history of nuclear energy cooperation. He described the bilateral cooperation to promote clean, efficient, and relatively cheaper energy as a huge success, an expression of great friendship, and an example for other countries to follow.
Shehbaz Sharif stated that the 3.5 billion USD Chashma-5 nuclear power project will be finished in the next seven to eight years. He emphasised, however, that shortening the installation process would be a significant benefit to the people of Pakistan. He also thanked China for granting a thirty billion rupee discount on this project, which he described as a very sweet gesture from his Chinese friends.
Shehbaz Sharif stated that he inaugurated the K-3 nuclear energy power plant in Karachi a few months ago, which is now operating and equipped with advanced technology similar to the C-5. He stated that the safety arrangements are first-rate, and he received approval in this regard from the chairman of the IAEA.
The Prime Minister praised China, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates for their recent financial assistance, saying the prospect of a potential default had been averted by the indefatigable team efforts of all components of Pakistan’s government.
Ms. Pang Chunxue, Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy, stated on the occasion that the Chashma-5 nuclear power plant will create over 10,000 local jobs and that a large number of raw materials, equipment, and related services will be purchased locally, effectively promoting socioeconomic development.
She said China-Pakistan cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy has made great achievements. She said the iron-clad friendship between Pakistan and China is continuously writing new chapters and this was not possible without joint efforts on both sides.
The Chinese Charge D’Affaires said under the CPEC, fourteen energy projects have been put into commercial operation with a total installed capacity of eight thousand megawatts. She said the two countries will move side by side to promote the high-quality development of the CPEC and make joint efforts to build a closer China-Pakistan Community with a shared future in the new era.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of China National Nuclear Corporation stated that our nuclear energy collaboration has been an intrinsic aspect of the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and a bright example of international nuclear energy cooperation.
According to Raja Ali Raza Anwar, Chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Cooperation, the Chashma-5 project has brought us one step closer to our aim of producing 8800 megawatts of pure nuclear energy. He stated that Chashma-5 will not only improve our nuclear power technical experience but will also have an impact on a number of socioeconomic areas.
