ISLAMABAD : Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) envisages production of 8,800MW by the year 2030 through nuclear power reactors. Two nuclear power plants, 340MW each, are under construction at Chashma and expected to be commissioned by 2016 with Chinese assistance. Construction of power plants became possible after a long-standing agreement, while three other nuclear power plants already performing well. According to official sources, the allocation of budget for the PAEC for the financial year 2013-14.is estimated at around Rs49,512.186 million. “An amount of Rs34.6b has been set aside for Chashma nuclear power plants C3 and C4.
The total cost of these two projects is Rs190 billion, which will be partially funded by a Rs136 billion
Chinese loan,” an official said.
The government has so far spent Rs62.4 billion on the mega-project having a 660MW power generation capacity. With an additional spending of Rs34.6 billion, the government has already completed almost half of the work, the official said. The 300MW Chashma Nuclear Power Plant-I is a pressurised water reactor that began commercial operation in 2000. It is located at Kundian in Punjab while the 300MW Chashma Nuclear Power Plant-II is part of the Chashma Nuclear Power Complex in the north-western region of Thal Doab.
On April 28, 2009 a general engineering and design contract for CHASNUPP-3 and CHASNUPP-4 was signed with Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute (SNERDI).
According to an official in Ministry of Science and Technology, government is harmonising the efforts made in the energy sector by different ministries, departments and research centres by creating an ‘Energy Council’ with heads of relevant organisations. The council will be entrusted to advise on priority areas for Research and Development (R&D) and management of resources and to fill the gaps.
Acquisition of technology for building nuclear power reactors through R&D, as well as transfer of technology agreements is also in consideration, he said.