Nuclear power: Chashma plant to generate 8,800MW

The plants are being built and operated by PAEC with Chinese support will be functional by 2016.

ISLAMABAD:
Completion of the Chashma Nuclear PowerPlants (CHASNUPP-III) and CHASNUPP-IV (C3 and C4 respectively), 340MegaWatt (MW) each, will help meet the target of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) to generate 8,800 MW through nuclear energy by the year 2030, according to the PAEC. The plants are being built and operated by PAEC with Chinese support will be functional by 2016. In November 2006, the International Atomic Energy Agency approved an agreement with the PAEC for new nuclear power plants to be built in the country with Chinese assistance. According to official sources, the allocation of budget for PAEC is estimated at Rs49.512 billion for the financial year2013-14. An official said a major chunk of the PAEC budget has been allocated to the two nuclear power plants.


Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2013.