K-2 inauguration to strengthen energy security: Sindh minister

Islamabad: Sindh Minister for Mines and Mineral Development and Public Health Engineering, Mir Shabbir Ali Bijarani on Thursday said linking of  K-2 to the national grid was a milestone for nuclear technology in the country and an important step toward national energy security.

Speaking on behalf of Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah at a webinar hosted by Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) on ‘Sustainable Development through Nuclear and Space Technologies in Pakistan’, the provincial minister acknowledged the contribution of nuclear energy to country’s energy security and national development especially Sindh.

The webinar coincided with the successful connection of 1100 MW KANUPP-2 nuclear power plant to the national grid.

Prime Minister Imran Khan is scheduled to inaugurate K-2 power plant on Friday (May 21).

“I would like to acknowledge the role of nuclear energy and many benefits that Sindh has as a province and Karachi as a metropolitan city and economic hub of Pakistan’s economy have obtained,” Bijarani maintained.

Mr. Wang Yong Fu, Chairman China Zhongyuan Engineering Corporation, assured China’s technical support to Pakistan for projects related to nuclear energy. Mr. Fu also identified the prospects of further civil nuclear cooperation between Pakistan and China in the fields of radioactive waste disposal, nuclear medical treatment and radiation facilities.

Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) Mr. Muhammad Naeem emphasized that the upcoming K-2 and K-3 nuclear power are safe to operate and their inauguration would be a milestone in the country’s quest to increase the share of nuclear power in electricity generation.

He said the inauguration of K-2 marks a new era of large sized plants with Generation-III reactors. K-3, he said, will hopefully become functional in next 8-10 months.

Both K-2 and K-3 power plants have a life of about 60 years, which is extendable to 80 years.

Emphasizing the safety element of the plants, Mr. Naeem said, they have been designed to survive any earthquake predicted for this region. Moreover, they can withstand the impact of even a large commercial aircraft hit.

He noted that with 1100 MW K-2 getting connected to the grid, the share of nuclear power in the national power mix has witnessed a quantum leap to 12%.

Chairman SUPARCO, Major General Amer Nadeem highlighted the role of space technologies in the development of the country.

“I must emphasize the positive and beneficial impact of space activities on everyday life and wellbeing of the populous,” he said adding that SUPARCO is fully committed to utilize the space technology and its applications for socio-economic development and that it will continue to play its role in facilitating the implementation of the global Sustainable development agenda.

Dr Ansar Parvez, former Chairman PAEC, argued that peaceful application of nuclear technology in Pakistan is helping to pursue UN SDGs. The benefits of nuclear technology expand to different fields including medicine, health, agriculture, industry, water resource management and electricity production.

Other speakers reiterated that to keep pace with technological advancements across the globe, effective utilization of nuclear and space technologies is crucial for national development. In his concluding remarks, Executive Director CISS, Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi, also emphasized the increasing role of peaceful use of nuclear and space capabilities in pursuit of socio-economic development.