IAEA SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION ON THE LONG-TERM OPERATION OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
Strengthening Romania’s nuclear regulatory infrastructure while providing a venue for international knowledge transfer was the focus of an IAEA technical visit at the Canadian Darlington Nuclear Generating Station (NGS) last month. A team from the Romanian Regulatory Body, the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN), and the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant visited Darlington NGS to discuss the long-term operation (LTO) of nuclear power plants. They also discussed the refurbishment process for CANDU reactors, which includes Calandria and pressure tube removal, re-tubing, and feeder pipe removal and replacement. During the refurbishment process, reactor components, such as the pressure tubes that contain the fuel during operation, are removed and replaced.
During the five-day visit from 17 22 July, the Romanian utility and regulator gained insight and experience on how to review and assess ageing management for CANDU reactors, with a focus on refurbishment. Round table interactions, presentations, and on-site tours enabled Romanian experts to enhance their knowledge on how to prepare and train for the implementation of refurbishment activities that typically start several years before the practical work of refurbishment begins. Other areas of discussion included Darlington’s third-party assessment of their steam generators to demonstrate their continued ability to operate successfully during the life extension, and insight into which components, such as cables, need to be replaced during or after refurbishment. Maria Oprisescu, the CNCAN Management System Control Section Head, explained, “The insights gained following this technical meeting have added great value to the regulatory oversight of ageing management and preparation for safe LTO, including refurbishment activities planned to be implemented in the coming years at Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 1.” Participants also received information on the kind of documentation required for submission to the regulator before starting a reactor refurbishment programme. Presentations included topics on operating experience, and the codes and standards that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) requires for each nuclear power plant and the types of inspections required, including the importance of periodic inspections to check the safety related structures.
Darlington’s manager of regulatory affairs, Craig Axler, said, “Sharing operating experience is an extremely valuable activity and is helpful not only for the visitors but also the hosts, as information sharing is passed in both directions on a wide range of topics. Ontario Power Generation is proud to share its successes with its current refurbishment project and is honoured to contribute to the long term operating efforts of all nuclear stations in the international community.” During a tour of the onsite mock up training facility, attendees gained practical experience on the processes involved in reactor refurbishment, as well as the importance of proper training and preparation to a successful refurbishment project. Iulia Jianu, a CNCAN Nuclear Safety Adviser, also noted, “The tours, presentations and round table discussions will significantly support the improvement of the Romanian regulatory framework regarding the use of industrial codes and standards.”
Courtesy: International Atomic Energy Agency.
SAUDI DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS PAKISTAN’S ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF
Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji on Thursday met Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Gen. Asim Munir during his official visit to the capital Islamabad. Munir held a dinner banquet in honor of Al-Khuraiji and his delegation. During talks, Al-Khuraiji and Munir discussed international issues of mutual concern and ways to further strengthen links between their two countries. Also present at the meeting was the Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki. CJCsSC, Services Chiefs & Armed Forces of Pakistan extend their heartfelt congratulations to the Nation on 76th Independence Day of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Courtesy: Pakistan Observer.
CJCSSC, SERVICES CHIEFS & ARMED FORCES OF PAKISTAN EXTEND THEIR HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NATION ON 76TH INDEPENDENCE DAY OF ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN
This day reminds us of the vision, fortitude and countless sacrifices which our ancestors offered, to realise our elders and great Quaid’s dream of a free and independent country. Thousands of sons’ of soil have laid down their lives for defence of the motherland and to preserve the cherished dream of freedom of our forefathers.Let us all pledge that irrespective of the challenges we face today, we will preserve and strengthen the peace, societal harmony and unity among the Nation. We will not let inimical forces to succeed, which are hell bent to create fissures and division among the Armed Forces and people of Pakistan. Armed Forces of Pakistan, with the support of Nation, will always defend the territorial integrity and peace of the motherland and continue to serve the nation as per the aspirations of people of Pakistan, InshaAllah.
Courtesy: Pakdefence.com
PAKISTAN FORMALISES CHASHMA-5 APPROVAL
According to an official government announcement, ECNEC “considered and approved” the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) project at a rationalised cost of KPR1,048 billion (USD3.7 billion) with a foreign exchange component of KPR187 billion and Chinese credit of KPR821 billion at a meeting held in Karachi on 27 July. China National Nuclear Corporation and PAEC signed a cooperation agreement on the construction of the plant in 2017, but according to the Dawn newspaper, Pakistan’s Planning Commission requested “certain clarifications and corrections”, leading to a revised project with an escalated cost of KPR689 billion being submitted in early 2021.
This was revised again to KPR767.6 billion later that year. The ground-breaking ceremony for the 1200 MWe Hualong One reactor was held earlier this month after Pakistan signed a USD4.8 billion deal with China. The Chashma site – also referred to as Chasnupp – at Mianwali in Punjab is already home to four operating Chinese-supplied CNP-300 pressurised water reactors.
Courtesy: World Nuclear News.
WON’T LET ‘INIMICAL FORCES’ CREATE DIVISIONS WITH PAKISTANI PEOPLE, ARMY SAYS IN AUG. 14 MESSAGE
Pakistan’s top military leadership said on Monday, Pakistan’s Independence Day, the army would not allow “inimical forces” to create divisions between the people of Pakistan and its armed forces, in a veiled reference to former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Khan, now behind bars after being convicted earlier this month in a case involving the sale of state gifts, has been embroiled in a tussle with the military since he was removed from power last year in a parliamentary vote that he says was orchestrated by the country’s top generals. The military denies this. The stand-off intensified when Khan’s supporters were involved in violent protests, including attacks on military installations, following his brief arrest on May 9. Thousands of the former premier’s supporters were subsequently arrested and hundreds of members of his party, including his closest aides, defected. The military and the government of then Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have vowed to punish the perpetrators and instigators of the violence, including through military trials.
“Let us all pledge that irrespective of the challenges we face today, we will preserve and strengthen the peace, societal harmony and unity among the Nation,” the military’s media wing said in an Independence Day message from the services chiefs. “We will not let inimical forces to succeed, which are hell bent to create fissures and division among the Armed Forces and people of Pakistan.” President Dr. Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also extended “heartfelt congratulations” to the nation in separate messages on Independence Day, Radio Pakistan reported. This year August 14 coincides with the oathtaking of Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar as interim PM to oversee a general election after the dissolution of the lower house of parliament earlier this week. The election is meant to be held within 90 days, by November, but uncertainty looms over the date as the nation grapples with constitutional, political and economic crises. Kakar and his cabinet will run the government until a national election is held and the winner can secure a parliamentary majority and select a new prime minister.
Courtesy: Arabnews.
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF PAK-CHINA RELATIONS STRESSED
Islamabad:The visiting Chinese delegates affirmed the strategic importance of China-Pakistan relations, highlighted the importance of next phase of CPEC and stressed the need for further deepening people-to-people contacts especially among the youth and vowed to further strengthen institutional relationships between think-tanks of the two countries. The 4-member Chinese delegation was hosted here by Institute of Strategic Studies (ISS). The team was led by Yuan Jianmin, Counsellor of Xinjiang Autonomous Region Government. The delegation included Liu Zongyi, Secretary, China South Asian Study Centre, Shanghai Institute of International Studies, Wang Shida, Deputy Director, South Asia Studies, China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) and Li Jingfeng, Associate Professor, Sichuan Academy of Social Science. The wide-ranging exchange of views covered the evolving global environment, developments in major-power relations, impact of Indo-Pacific strategy on South Asia, achievements during the ‘Decade of CPEC’ and the salience of Pakistan China all-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership in international dynamics. Sohail Mahmood, DG, ISS, in his introductory remarks, extended a warm welcome to the visiting scholars. He underscored the importance of Pakistan-China relations in the contemporary world and the strategic significance of CPEC for Pakistan’s economic transformation and regional prosperity.
He also shared Pakistan’s perspective on major-power competition as well as the potential fall-out of designating a South Asian state as ‘net security provider.’ Stressing that the Pakistan-China strategic partnership was a factor of peace and stability in the region and beyond, he emphasised the importance of crafting a long-term vision of this relationship as, in the next 25 years, both Pakistan and the Peoples’ Republic will be celebrating their respective centenaries. Earlier, Dr Talat Shabbir, ISS, in his remarks briefed the Chinese delegation about the structure and functioning of the institute. He recalled the recent seminars held jointly by the ISS-CICIR and ISSI-Fudan University in China and stressed the pivotal importance of such interactions and dialogues for China-Pakistan bilateral relations.
Courtesy: The News International.
LAVROV SAYS RUSSIA’S NUCLEAR ARSENAL A REMINDER FOR WEST
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that having nuclear weapons defends Russia from external security dangers and acts as a continual warning to the West about the risk of nuclear war. While talking to the state news magazine The International Affairs, Lavrov said, “The possession of nuclear arms is today the only possible response to some of the significant external threats to the security of our country.”
Lavrov made the recent remark following Moscow’s military escalation which has risen sharply since Russian forces entered Ukraine last year. He warned that the United States and its NATO allies risk ending up in “a situation of direct armed confrontation of nuclear powers”. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stated last month that Moscow would have to use nuclear weapons if Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces proved successful. NATO countries and the US provide the majority of Ukraine’s military assistance in its conflict with Russia. According to Al Jazeera, US President Joe Biden described the possibility of Russia utilising tactical nuclear weapons as “real”.
“We believe such a development should be prevented. That’s why we have to remind about the existence of high military and political risks and send sobering signals to our opponents”, Lavrov added. “The Western military alliance has not detected any changes to Russia’s nuclear force stance, and therefore, NATO did not need to reciprocate in its nuclear posture”, said NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg. On Thursday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, warned that he would use the nuclear weapons that Russia had deployed in his country if faced with external aggression.
Courtesy: Aljazeera.
BRITISH PAKISTANI STUDENT, MAHNOOR CHEEMA MAKE HISTORY
16-year-old British Pakistani student, Mahnoor Cheema, makes history with an extraordinary achievement, passing 34 GCSE subjects. Her record-breaking feat includes 17 A* grades in Year 10 and 17 more subjects later, setting a new UK and international milestone. Beyond academics, Mahnoor shines with an IQ of 161, excelling in music and essays. Her aspirations for medicine at Oxford and dedication to humanitarian work shape a promising future. She attributes her success to hard work, time management, and family support. Mahnoor’s parents, Barrister Usman Cheema and Mrs. Tayyaba Cheema, express immense pride in her accomplishments, breaking European records and garnering admiration.
Courtesy: Daily Pakistan.
CHINA HOPES EXPANDED BRICS WILL TURN WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
China’s recent decision to expand the Brics bloc by adding Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates reflects its intent to counter the perceived biases of the US-led western-dominated global system. This move, which joins the new members with existing ones (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), creates a formidable grouping with significant size and influence. With the western world having long dominated global institutions, China seeks to establish a counterbalance that challenges this status quo. By some measures of economic power, the new 11-country Brics bloc could potentially reshape the global dynamics. The motivation behind China’s effort is to create an opposing force to the G7, aimed at bolstering Chinese leadership on the global stage. This strategic endeavor aligns with Beijing’s ambitions to reshape international institutions to be more inclusive of developing countries. The Brics summit’s 26-page declaration reflects Chinese influence in shaping the agenda, particularly evident in its calls for reform within international institutions. The primary focus is on reforming entities like the World Bank and the IMF, both of which are currently dominated by western democracies. The declaration emphasizes granting more power and leadership roles to emerging markets and developing nations.
A central demand is the comprehensive reform of the United Nations, an institution China deems crucial for global governance. Specific focus lies on the UN Security Council, where China and Russia are two of the five permanent members. The declaration pushes for increased representation of developing countries in this influential body, a sentiment shared by nations like Brazil and India. Implementing these reforms could diminish the influence of developed countries, prompting resistance from G7 members and others in the developed world. Challenges face the expanded Brics bloc, including differing viewpoints among members, particularly regarding the overtly anti-western stance championed by China and Russia. Geopolitical unity remains elusive on key issues, such as the conflict in Ukraine. Despite these challenges, the expanded Brics grouping represents an unprecedentedly influential force from the developing world. It signifies a shift away from the historical dominance of the western powers, heralding the dawn of a potential “global south” era.
In conclusion, China’s move to enlarge the Brics bloc is a strategic attempt to counter the western-dominated global system and create a more inclusive platform for emerging economies. The expansion signifies a shift in global dynamics and challenges the established norms of global governance. As the Brics bloc gains traction and influence, it raises the prospect of a rebalancing of power and a redefinition of international institutions in favor of the developing world.
Courtesy: The Financial Times.