Planning for the development of nuclear power in Pakistan

The paper analyses the prospective energy demand and supply situation in Pakistan and shows that a strong rationale exists for Pakistan to meet a large fraction of its future electricity generation requirements through nuclear power. It is shown that even under conditions of modest economic growth and with maximum exploitation of available hydro and other resources the country would still need to provide about 10,000 MW of nuclear generating capacity over the next two decades in order to meet its power needs. The economic comparison between nuclear and coal/oil-fired units shows a decided advantage in favour of nuclear, which has led the government to decide on the construction of a second nuclear plant at Chashma for completion in 1989. The paper also describes the efforts being made in Pakistan to develop facilities related to nuclear power technology, and to produce adequately trained manpower, required to plan, design, build and operate the future nuclear power plants and other related installations in the country. (author)