Pakistan eyes 8,000MW target with Chashma-5 project
Chashma plant
The under-construction Chashma-5 Nuclear Power Plant is expected to contribute 1,200 megawatts (MW) of clean, safe, and low-cost electricity to the national grid.
Chashma Nuclear Power Complex General Manager Engineer Habibur Rehman made these remarks while briefing a group of journalists at the Chashma Nuclear Complex.
Informing that the project was advancing swiftly, he said that Pakistan was working towards enhancing its nuclear power generation capacity to 8,000MW, aiming to make nuclear energy a dependable component of the country's sustainable and affordable energy mix.
On the occasion, media representatives toured several operational and under-construction units of the facility, where they were briefed on plant performance, safety protocols, technical systems, and environmental standards.
Engineer Habibur Rehman noted that Pakistan currently ranked among the top 20 nuclear power-producing countries globally, operating six nuclear reactors with a combined generation capacity of 3,530MW.
The figure is projected to rise to 4,730 MW following the completion of Chashma-5, he added.
He explained that the Chashma-5 project was based on the advanced Hualong One (HPR1000) design, a third-generation pressurised water reactor.
The plant was being developed in collaboration with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). The project's first concrete was poured on December 30, 2024.
Highlighting global trends, he noted that nuclear power was regaining international attention.
Several developed nations, including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, and South Korea, which had previously scaled back or planned to phase out nuclear power, were now re-engaging with the sector and actively building new nuclear plants.
The general manager said that nuclear energy offered a cost-effective, safe, and environmentally friendly electricity source. In calendar year 2024, nuclear power accounted for roughly 13% of Pakistan's total electricity supply. In December 2024 alone, its share peaked at around 26.5%.