PM inaugurates Chashma-III nuclear power plant, says load-shedding to end by 2018

MIANWALI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday inaugurated Chashma- III nuclear power plant in the city, another milestone in Pak-China joint collaborations.

Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif and Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz were also accompanying the premier.

The 340-mega watt nuclear power plant is a joint collaboration of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), said a press release issued from the PM’s media wing.

Addressing a high-profile event after the inauguration of Chashma- III nuclear power plant Prime Minister Sharif said, “Today we have crossed another milestone in making Pakistan a load-shedding free country through this project.”

“Energy projects between Pakistan and China are a testimony of strong relations between Islamabad and Beijing,” he said.

The premier said he was happy that the Chashma- III nuclear power plant was operation now which was founded during my last tenure.

“Chashma-I and Chashma-II projects are already working successfully,” PM Sharif informed the participants of the event.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reiterated that load-shedding would be eliminated from the country by 2018 and said, “Government’s first priority is to end load-shedding from Pakistan and we have done well in the last three years to achieve this goal.”

He said, “Chashma- III nuclear power plant will contribute to the overall economic development of the country through energy supply to its industrial and commercial sectors.”

On this occasion PM also announced bonuses for workers associated with the ongoing power projects in the country.

“Do not put Pakistan’s interests at stake for your politics,” he told opposition parties chiefly Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

The prime minister insisted that there was no need for protests and sit-ins in the country when it was on the track of development and progress.

It is important to mention here that another nuclear power project, Chashma – IV would be completed in 2017 while Karachi nuclear power projects K-2 and K-3 would add a total of 8,800-MW power to the national grid by 2030 as a mid-term target for PAEC.

All the nuclear power projects, including Chashma-III have been approved by Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority for Nuclear Safeguards as per International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) agreements thereby maintaining highest safety standards, said official sources.

According to official sources, the project would provide clean and affordable energy to the people of Pakistan in line with the government’s vision to control energy crisis.