Pakistan’s atomic energy regulatory agency on Monday issued a license to the Pakistani government, which is all set to construct its largest-ever nuclear electricity generation plant in the country.
The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) issued the license to build the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit (C-5), the largest plant producing electricity through nuclear power with a capacity of 1200 MWe, according to a PNRA press release issued on Thursday (December 26, 2024).
The PNRA commission applied for the license in April of this year, along with the preliminary safety assessment report and other documents about the design and operational aspects of nuclear safety, radiation protection measurements, emergency preparedness, waste management, and nuclear security, reports said.
After taking into account all the measures related to safety and security standards required by the regulatory commission, the license was then issued following the fulfilment of national and international standards, stated the PNRA press release.
C-5 is an advanced third-generation pressurised water reactor of Chinese Hualong design, having active and passive safety features, including a double-shell containment and reactor-filtered venting system. It has a lifespan of 60 years.
With the approval of this plant, Pakistan will now possess three nuclear power plants with the same Hualong design.
Meanwhile, two other plants of such design are already operational in Karachi, which are successfully adding electricity to the national grid.
The C-5 has already been approved by the executive committee of the National Economic Council, and it will be built at a cost of USD 3.7 billion.
Pakistan’s current nuclear energy capacity is about 3,530 MW, contributing about 27 per cent of the total electricity generation in the national grid.
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