CHASHMA BARRAGE, Nov 7 (APP): To reap the immense potential of nuclear energy, a clean and cost competitive source of electricity, Planning Commission will support Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) to enhance its indigenous technical facilities for manufacturing and installation of nuclear power plants. Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali said this during his visit to Chashma Nuclear Power Plants here on Saturday. PAECs plans to install more nuclear power plants to contribute to the pressing electricity requirements of the country are well founded and its increasing indigenous capability in this domain deserves our full support, and we will provide all what is possible to this organization, which has an excellent track record of delivering what ever was assigned to it, he said. Sardar Aseff stated that there was huge reservoir of technical know-how available with PAEC, which could be utilised for socio-economic uplift of the country, adding that “we need to strengthen this centre of excellence for a prosperous Pakistan”’. He said, due to global warming caused by fossil fuel based electricity plants, nuclear energy as clean source has staged resurgence and it is heartening to know that PAEC is poised to take a lead in nuclear power generation. Speaking on the occasion, Chairman PAEC, Dr Ansar Parvez said that Pakistan’s nuclear power plants were operating well and PAEC was moving forwards to install more nuclear power plants in the coming years. He said that in future nuclear power projects, the indigenous capability is to play an important role. “We already have workshops and facilities to this end and we are working to enhance this capacity all along”. Earlier in his presentation, DG Chashma, Safder Habib dwelt at length on the self-reliance programme of the PAEC in nuclear power generation and cited the example of KANUPP, which is being run through indigenous capabilities since 1976 when the supplier withdrew all support and world placed embargoes on us. Deputy Chairman Planning Commission undertook a detailed visit of C-1 and C-2 projects. C-1 is connected to the national grid since September 2000 with an excellent availability factor and under-construction C-2 is to be operational by mid 2011. Deputy Chairman Planning Commission also inaugurated a site for development of educational facilities up to university level for the needs of nuclear power complex at Chashma barrage. APP/ Hamza/mka