ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) on Tuesday awarded licence to the Heavy Mechanical Complex-3 for the manufacturing of nuclear safety equipment and termed it a step forward towards self-reliance and indigenisation.

Speaking at the HMC Taxila, PNRA Chairman Engineer Anwar Habib said, “I feel privileged at this special moment for award of licence to HMC-3 for the manufacturing of Class 1 safety equipment in Pakistan.”
Engineer Waqar told on the occasion that embargoes put on Pakistan by international forums regarding import of nuclear power plant equipment developed the need for developing capability within country to be able to manufacture state of the art equipment that could run the power plants smoothly.
He said: “The licence has enabled HMC-3 today to manufacture the most sophisticated equipment. The plans were initiated in 70s and this day is the special day that we have achieved the goals.” He also said, “We must applaud China for its contribution in development of capability of HMC-3 to manufacture Class-1 safety equipment and also for the regulatory frame work that was a big task.”
While wetting the quality standards of the HMC-3, he said that PNRA being regulatory authority is responsible for ensuring the safety of people as a whole and workers as well from any harmful effects so the licence granted fulfils the requirements.
He told that HMC-3 has already licences to manufacture all types of equipment, other than nuclear, from the international organisations. For 2 years the organisation is working to meet the quality standard to manufacture Class-1 safety equipment and “today we have achieved the goal”.
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Munir Ahmed Khan said that the credit goes to PNRA that established its capability to verify and regulate such equipment that was a big task. He also said that Chashma 1 and 2 were operational and Chashma 3 and 4 would be completed within their given timeframe of 2016. He also hoped that Pakistan would be generating 8,000 megawatt energy using nuclear resources in 2030.
Water and Power Minister Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar, who was the Chief Guest, said, “I am feeling so much pride and always do when Pakistan develops any new thing, and today is one such beautiful day for me.” He said that efforts were being made to shift to coal-based energy generation as circular debt was a menace that could not be eliminated using furnace oil, which was too costlier to afford.

To a question PAEC chairman said, “Right now we are not going for international verification for our ability to manufacture Class-1 safety equipment and the local licence is more than enough.” He said that while Pakistan now has the ability to manufacture such equipment it could be manufactured and supplied if needed. Responding to a question that Dr Abdul Qadir Khan’s statements regarding transfer of technology to Libya and Iran might be disturbing for the organisation, he said, “We are not facing any kind of trouble due to Dr AQ Khan or his statements. It’s a political issue and political leadership would be tackling it on the international forums.”