Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) Thursday defended the setting up of twin nuclear power plants in Karachi, submitting in the Sindh High Court (SHC) that the work on the nuclear power plants was commenced after fulfilling all technical, scientific, economic, legal, financial and environmental prerequisites.
Headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar, a division bench was hearing a petition filed by Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Dr Pervaiz Amirali Hoodbhoy and others, who had approached the court challenging SEPA’S environmental impact assessment (EIA) report that accorded its approval to establishment of two nuclear power plants in Karachi.
The bench extended till November 12 its injunction, barring PAEC from carrying out work on the nuclear power plants without adhering to the environmental laws.
In response to the court notice, the PAEC secretary submitted the comments, stating that ACP-1000 nuclear reactors were based on the pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) concept, which has been the workhorse of the nuclear industry for past five decades, adding hundreds of reactors of this type were operating around the world.
What differentiates ACP-1000 from previous generation PWRs is the number of additional safety measures to meet the safety targets of generation-III plants, he said.
However, the PAEC secretary denied that PAEC had failed to offer and make public credible plan for emergency evacuation of the citizens in case of any nuclear accident, stating that setting up an emergency plan and carrying out emergency drills is mandatory requirement set forth by PNRA and the PAEC had fulfilled the requirement.
