Pak planning to purchase 2 N-power plants from China

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan plans to purchase two atomic power plants with a combined capacity of 2,000 MW from China despite concerns expressed by the West over nuclear cooperation between the two countries. The new plants will be installed at the Karachi nuclear power plant complex to address the country's energy crisis. The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and Pakistan atomic energy commission are likely to enter into an agreement for a joint study to finalize design modifications for the new plants, the Express Tribune quoted official documents as saying. After the joint study, a contract for establishing Kanupp-2 and Kanupp-3 will be negotiated. Pakistan's planning commission has said CNNC should be asked to grant intellectual property rights for the plants and suggest steps to help avoid violation of property rights. China and Pakistan have signed an agreement in 2009 to set up two nuclear power plants despite western concerns that it violated international nuclear regulations.