Daily Times

Sir: Pakistan’s largest nuclear power plant project in Karachi is the focus of negative attention. ACP-1000 nuclear power plants are advanced third generation reactors designed with enhanced safety features. The Fukushima disaster incident has not deterred even Japan from continuing to use nuclear energy. The disaster in Japan was not owed to the out of date design features but due to the extraordinary tsunami that swept away everything in its path and deluged the plant’s cooling system and backup power. Almost all nuclear states carried out stress tests of their old plants after Fukushima and the findings indicated that these plants are safe for use. The Chinese reactors are the latest and better than the ones in operation elsewhere in the world.

Kanupp-I nuclear power plant was built 11 miles away from Karachi and 12 metres above sea level. Kanupp-II and Kanupp-III projects are 25 miles away from Karachi and being carried out by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), federal government and the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA), with a team of expert scientists and engineers to make sure all the security plans documented are properly tested several times in the couple of years before starting operations. Pakistan has to overcome the increasing energy crisis and it is imperative that every source should be utilised. Nuclear energy is the best source that comes at an affordable cost and is less hazardous to the environment.

AHSAN ALI ZAHID

Islamabad