Islamabad, Dec 30: Pakistan is embarking on the construction of its largest nuclear power plant following the issuance of a construction licence by the country’s atomic energy regulatory body.
The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) granted the licence for the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit 5 (C-5), which will have an electricity generation capacity of 1200 MWe, as stated in a PNRA press release from Thursday (December 26, 2024).
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission submitted its licence application in April, which included the Preliminary Safety Assessment Report and documentation concerning the design and safety measures for nuclear operations, radiation protection, emergency preparedness, waste management, and nuclear security, according to the Dawn newspaper.
After rigorously reviewing and fulfilling regulatory requirements aligned with national and international standards, the licence was granted, as stated in the PNRA’s announcement.
C-5 is designed as a third-generation Pressurized Water Reactor, featuring advanced safety protocols, including a dual-shell containment and reactor-filtered venting system. Its operational lifecycle is projected to be 60 years.
This plant will be the third installation of this design in Pakistan.
The existing Karachi Nuclear Power Plant units 2 and 3 are already operational and contributing to the national electricity supply.
Approved by the executive committee of the National Economic Council, the C-5 project is estimated to cost USD 3.7 billion.
Currently, Pakistan’s nuclear energy capacity is around 3,530 MW, providing approximately 27 percent of the electricity generated in the national grid. (Agencies)
