Consturction of 3rd Khushab reactor intensified

[S_O_C_O_M]

Pakistan steps up nuclear construction: images​

(AFP) – 4 hours ago

A view of Pakistani Khushab heavy water plant


WASHINGTON — Pakistan appears to have stepped up construction of a new atomic reactor that could help the country produce easier-to-deliver nuclear weapons, a US research institute said Tuesday.

Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is a highly sensitive topic for the United States as it tries to improve relations with its frontline partner in the campaign against Islamic extremism.

The Institute for Science and International Security, a private US group which is critical of nuclear weapons, said it observed progress at Pakistan's tightly guarded Khushab site which is key to plutonium production.

In a September satellite image of the site in Punjab province, the institute said it observed a completed row of mechanical draft cooling towers at a third reactor, where construction began in 2006.

It marks a faster pace than for the second reactor, where such towers appeared after six years of construction, it said.

"Based on what I see in the image, it wouldn't surprise me if they started it up in 2011," said Paul Brannan, a senior analyst at the institute.

The institute noticed steam from the second reactor in a December 31 image, indicating it was running. It did not see steam in the latest image, but said reactors were not operated continuously during early phases and that weather conditions may have reduced visibility.

Pakistan declared itself a nuclear weapons state in 1998, days after its historic rival India carried out similar atom bomb tests. Pakistan's nuclear arsenal originally was based on highly enriched uranium.

Western analysts believe that China assisted Pakistan is developing Khushab nuclear site to produce plutonium, which can be miniaturized for cruise missiles presumably aimed at India.

"Plutonium bombs give the ability to make smaller, lighter or more powerful weapons, and also more deliverable weapons, and I suspect that's what Pakistan wants," Brannan said.

Pakistan has been adamant that its nuclear weapons are in safe hands and President Barack Obama has publicly concurred, although US officials are said to have drafted a contingency plan in a worst-case scenario.

AFP: Pakistan steps up nuclear construction: images

 

[Awesome]

lol @ "construction of a new atomic reactor that could help the country produce easier-to-deliver nuclear weapon"

Generating power has nothing to do with it eh?

 

[Sinnerman108]

This is a recurring event,
every 3 months western media ends up in a fit about Khushab and plutonium.

Search pages for the last 2 years and you will see the pattern.

 

[sparklingway]

Construction of Third Heavy Water Reactor at Khushab Nuclear Site in Pakistan Progressing​

by Paul Brannan

October 5, 2010

ISIS has obtained new satellite imagery from DigitalGlobe of the Khushab military nuclear site in Pakistan. The image from September 9, 2010 shows construction of the third heavy water reactor progressing, with a row of mechanical draft cooling towers that appears finished (see figure 1). The previous available image, a GeoEye photo from December 31, 2009 on Google Earth, shows the row of cooling towers for the third reactor under construction (see figure 2). In the same photo, ISIS noted steam being emitted from the cooling towers of the second Khushab reactor, indicating that it was at some stage of initial operation. Pakistan announced the operation of its first heavy water reactor at Khushab in 1998. Pakistan began building the second heavy water reactor at Khushab between 2000 and 2002. It began building the third reactor during 2006. These reactors support Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program.

Construction of the third reactor has progressed more quickly than the second reactor. This is evident when comparing the two reactors at similar points in their construction. From the time of initial clearing and excavation for the second reactor, it took at least six years before its cooling towers appeared complete in commercial satellite imagery. In contrast, it took Pakistan less than fives years from when initial excavation is visible in commercial satellite imagery until the third reactor’s cooling towers appear finished.

Though steam can be seen rising from some of the second reactor’s cooling tower fan blades in December 31st, 2009 image, steam cannot be seen above the second reactor’s cooling towers in the latest September 9, 2010 image. During a reactor’s start-up phase, however, the reactor may not be operated continuously. Furthermore, as always, atmospheric conditions can determine whether or not steam will be visible in commercial satellite imagery.

Figure 1. DigitalGlobe satellite image from September 9, 2010 of the Khushab nuclear site in Pakistan. The third heavy water reactor can be seen along with a row of mechanical draft cooling towers that appears complete. The second heavy reactor can be seen directly below the third reactor.

Figure 2. GeoEye image available on Google Earth of the second and third Khushab reactors on December 31, 2009. The foundation for the row of cooling towers for the third reactor can be seen in the image.​

Institute for Science and International Security › ISIS Reports › Pakistan › Construction of Third Heavy Water Reactor at Khushab Nuclear Site in Pakistan Progressing

 

[VCheng]

It is good to see steady progress at that location.

 

[Arsalan]

yeap, my cousin is part of this project.
he says that the project pace have been increased significantly in past few months.

as per him, the reason is not the increasing short fall of electricity (which i think is also playing its role in increased speed of work) but increased intrest of china and aim to further explore this sector in pakistan.

we have also heard reports regarding chinese firm showing intention to buil another one giga watt reactor in years to come. although the report has not been confirmed officially.

China to set up a new 1 gigawatt nuclear plant for Pakistan
Beijing, Sep 21 (PTI)

Unruffled by global concerns, Beijing and Islamabad are in talks to build a new nuclear reactor in Pakistan of one gigawatt capacity, three times more powerful than existing ones, apparently without the approval of the IAEA or the NSG.

Qiu Jiangang, Vice President of the state-run China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), which has already built Pakistan's main nuclear facility at Chashma in Punjab province, said his company was in talks to set up another giant nuclear plant in Pakistan. "Both sides are in discussion over the CNNC exporting a one gigawatt nuclear plant to Pakistan", Qiu told a meeting in Beijing without giving any details.

Tacitly confirming Qiu's remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson here told reporters during a briefing to direct their queries to the CNNC. But, the ministry said Beijing had informed International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about its plans to build two more nuclear power plants at Chashma in addition to the earlier two units.

Chinese Foreign Minister's spokesperson, Jiang Yu who replied to a number of questions about China's plans to build one gigawatt plant said she too "read the reports" about it and has no information about it.

"Please confirm with the relevant company," about it, she said. Qiu, the top official of the CNNC giving details about the progress of Pakistani nuclear reactors said that besides the main plant at Chashma, his company was completing a second reactor there and has contracts to build two more 300 megawatt reactors, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Qiu said, that the first reactor was operating safely and the second one was being tested and expected to start formal operations by the end of the year. The new plant of 1 gigawatt plant, which would be Pakistan's fifth and more than three times powerful than the existing ones is being proposed to be built without China notifying either the IAEA or the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

US and India have both expressed concern after China signed a deal in February to build the additional two 300-MW reactors. Quoting US officials, 'Wall Street Journal' said, such plans required special exemption from the 46-nation NSG, which China joined in 2004 and which is supposed to regulate the global nuclear trade.

The paper said, Vann H Van Diepen, the US acting assistant secretary of state for nonproliferation had suggested before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in July that the US would vote against such an exemption.

Pakistan is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and there are concerns by US, Western Nations and India that Pakistan's nuclear material may fall into the hands of Al Qaeda and Taliban who are based close to the Pakistani capital.

The Chinese plans to export yet another nuclear plant to Pakistan comes as Beijing has unveiled plans to invest nearly USD 120 billion to increase nuclear power generation to 70-80 gigawatts by 2020, the 'China Daily' reported today. The paper said to fund the new spending spree CNNC would list its subsidiary CNNC Nuclear Power Co Ltd.

China has stepped up investment in nuclear power in an effort to slash its carbon emissions and reduce the nations reliability on coal for energy needs. The daily said China which has emerged as the world's second largest economy was aiming to produce 15 per cent of its power demand from nuclear energy.

China has 11 nuclear power reactors in operation with a capacity of 9.1 gigawatt and the country aims to increase this to 70-80 gigawatts by 2020. Though the Chinese spokesman was reluctant to come out directly on the issue, a Pakistani official implicitly confirmed it is holding talks with China to build nuclear plant.

"We have an ongoing nuclear cooperation agreement with China which is according to our respective international obligations for peaceful purposes under the IAEA safeguards," official spokesman Abdul Basit told reporters in Islamabad.

regards!

 

[VCheng]

Is your cousin part of CHASNUPP?

 

[Arsalan]

Is your cousin part of CHASNUPP?

yeap,
he rarely talks about anything relavant or of our intrest but this was somthing that he said was amazing.
quoting his word
hm na pechlay theen saal mein itna kaam nai kia jitna in eight nine months mein hua ha!!

regards!

 

[VCheng]

yeap,
he rarely talks about anything relavant or of our intrest but this was somthing that he said was amazing.
quoting his word
hm na pechlay theen saal mein itna kaam nai kia jitna in eight nine months mein hua ha!!

regards!

That is good to hear. Just tell him salaam from an "old guy" and to keep uo the good work!

 

[somebozo]

Isnt something under construction is to progress towards completion eventually?? What the big deal in "exposing" developments of a legitimate facility?? Its like Indians news anchors always attaching word "secret" before every Pakistani defense development. Ohh God..that Indian super bug must be for real as the whole world is being infected with same kind of intellectual deficit.

 

[VCheng]

Isnt something under construction is to progress towards completion eventually?? What the big deal in "exposing" developments of a legitimate facility?? Its like Indians news anchors always attaching word "secret" before every Pakistani defense development. Ohh God..that Indian super bug must be for real as the whole world is being infected with same kind of intellectual deficit.

That is just the way the game is played, and we need to learn how to play it better.

Chashma is for power generation. Khushab is not.

 

[Arsalan]

That is good to hear. Just tell him salaam from an "old guy" and to keep uo the good work!

nice to get introduced to you!
he is actually part of Atomic enery commision, so is his father.
he had been working with Chasnup and with Kushaab project aswell.
currently deployed there..

i last met him some two months back.
by his way, work would be nearing comletion way before time...

 

[somebozo]

That is just the way the game is played, and we need to learn how to play it better.

Chashma is for power generation. Khushab is not.

So what are they gonna do with all that heat generated?? Make tea??
Most likely since its a very small reactor but i did wish all the heat could be utilized to proper usage. Even if it is to only power the facility and few army barracks!

 

[VCheng]

nice to get introduced to you!
he is actually part of Atomic enery commision, so is his father.
he had been working with Chasnup and with Kushaab project aswell.
currently deployed there..

i last met him some two months back.
by his way, work would be nearing comletion way before time...

Good to know you, and this forum too.

Definitely brings back old memories!

---------- Post added at 11:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:22 AM ----------

So what are they gonna do with all that heat generated?? Make tea??
Most likely since its a very small reactor but i did wish all the heat could be utilized to proper usage. Even if it is to only power the facility and few army barracks!

LOL!

Actually, we sometimes did make tea with the heat!

More interesting was using liquid nitrogen to make instant icecream, but don't try this at home kids.

 

[Jungibaaz]

do we have any long range SAMs defending this site??? If not we really need to get some