The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the nuclear cooperation between China and Pakistan, and a project that is part of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative. This project has made great strides in the recent years, making nuclear technology become the new facet of China’s export portfolio.
The Chashma Nuclear Power Plant (CHASNUPP) Unit 3 was built by state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation. It was connected to Pakistan’s grid last October.
In addition, the Hualong One third generation nuclear technology developed by China is being installed in a nuclear power plant in Karachi, Pakistan.
Lin Boqiang, the director for the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, said: “The construction of a Hualong One nuclear unit at Karachi has set a great example for future export efforts of China’s third-generation nuclear technology.”
He also said that it is very likely that more countries will be interested on China’s nuclear technology, as it is safe and more affordable compared to other third generation technologies available.
Han Xiaoping, the chief analyst of China5e, said: “Pakistan’s growth has been hindered by power shortages and nuclear technology offers the country a clean and affordable option in power supply.”
He also stated that there is a great potential for China’s nuclear technology in terms of international cooperation because it has a good safety record, both domestically and abroad.
Ejaz Hussain, Iqra University Islamabad’s head of the department of social sciences, said: “Pakistan is indubitably an energy-deficit country with traditional reliance on hydropower generation of which the capacity has gone down over the years. Every day, there is an electricity shortage of some 4,000 megawatts.”
There are nuclear concerns, however, as Hussain noted that nuclear power plants pose danger to the metropolitan just in case it was hit by a tsunami or natural calamities. Karachi is known to be politically and security-wise unstable. Hence, the location is prone to terror attacks, and this is bad news for the nuclear power plant.
He said that despite the stability of the CPEC, China will have a role to play related with domestic humanitarian and green organizations.