U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman have said that the United States would not export nuclear technology to Pakistan and oppose a gas pipeline from Iran to Pakistan, according to local press reports Tuesday.

"The security situation needs to be improved as it is an impediment to investment. Until there is an improvement, substantial investment is not possible," the visiting U.S. energy secretary told journalists when asked about foreign investment in a gas pipeline project from Turkmenistan.

Bodman, who arrived in Islamabad for talks on U.S. cooperation in Pakistan's energy sector, did not support the Iran-Pakistan- India gas pipeline project, saying, "Our country has significant problems with Iran. They are working on nuclear weapons and we are trying to prevent it, so it is impossible to support a contractual agreement."

Asked if the United States would help Pakistan build a 1,000 MW nuclear power plant, he said, "We have developed a wide-ranging dialogue but it does not include cooperation in nuclear energy. Civil nuclear energy cooperation has not been discussed and it is not on my agenda."

"There are so many things that we can do. There is a long list, " he said, adding that the United States could help Pakistan meet its energy needs from coal, wind and solar sources. "We can help Pakistan with our research in coal energy. A survey of various locations can be carried out where wind and solar energy can be put to use," he said.

He hinted the United States could help Pakistan with gas pipelines from Qatar and Turkmenistan. "Apart from this (the gas pipeline from Iran), we can be helpful," he said, without committing any financial assistance to Pakistan. "However, we stand ready to help if possible to find finances," he added.

He said that he was in Pakistan as a follow-up to President George W. Bush's visit. "I am here to understand the energy needs and listen to the Pakistani leadership as we are prepared to assist Pakistan," he said.

He said that he had invited a delegation of Pakistani officials to Washington to discuss how the United States could help Pakistan meet its energy needs and how it could attract investment in its energy sector. "We will also send a delegation of scientists to Pakistan," Bodman said.

After talks with Bodman, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that the Pakistani government had prepared a 25-year plan to explore new energy sources, including renewable, and develop infrastructure to import gas and electricity from Iran, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Source: Xinhua