Pakistan to review safety of nuclear power plants following Japan disaster

April 6th, 2011 - 2:55 pm ICT by ANI  

Islamabad, April 6(ANI): The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) has ordered a safety review of the atomic power plants in the country in the wake of radioactivity emission at the stricken Fukushima power plant in Japan, and warned that additional measures might be required at the Karachi and Chashma nuclear power plants.

“PNRA - in the wake of Japan event - has advised PAEC to revisit the safety aspects of the nuclear power plants at Karachi and Chashma with reference to site studies, safety systems, operator’s training, emergency power systems, off-site emergency preparedness plans, etc,” Pakistan’s nuclear regulator said in a press release.

“PNRA will continue to study the accident at Fukushima and the response of Japanese and other regulatory authorities and may ask PAEC [Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission] to take additional measures,” it added.

The PNRA, however maintained that at the moment, PAEC-operated nuclear power plants “meet the requirements of national nuclear regulations - which are at par with the international requirements - and do not pose any unwarranted radiation hazard to the public or the environment.”

The statement said that although the likelihood of a similar extreme natural event occuring in the vicinity of Pakistan’s nuclear power plants is quite small due to the geographical differences between Pakistan and Japan, it has still advised the PAEC to prepare itself for other natural extreme events or manmade accidents.

“PNRA would like to assure the public that based on the information being received in

Pakistan, the accident at Fukushima does not pose any direct risk to our public or the

Environment,” the statement added. (ANI)

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