China to build six nuclear plants in Pakistan

Islamabad: A Chinese official has confirmed it is involved in six nuclear power projects in Pakistan and is likely to export more reactors to the country.

China has been involved in the construction of six reactors in Pakistan, the Daily Times reported Monday citing Wang Xiaotao, a top official of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

While China has in the past declined to confirm or share details regarding the extent of its ongoing civilian nuclear cooperation with Pakistan, the NDRC was keen to support further exports to Pakistan and other countries.

The NDRC is drawing up new guidelines to announce supportive financial policies for exports in the nuclear sector, Wang said.

While announcing the guidelines, Wang said that China "has assisted in building six nuclear reactors in Pakistan with a total installed capacity of 3.4 million kilowatts".

China's recent projects with Pakistan have come under scrutiny as the NSG does not allow members to supply nuclear technology to countries that have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

In 2009, the China National Nuclear Corporation signed agreements for two new nuclear reactors, Chashma-3 and Chashma-4. The deals became a matter of controversy and were debated at the NSG, with China arguing that the reactors were "grandfathered" as part of its earlier Chashma agreement -- Chashma-1 and Chashma-2 -- and were not new projects.

China also argued that the deals were under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and were legitimate.