Islamabad: Pakistan has connected its first 1,100 MW nuclear power plant unit to the national power grid, marking a major milestone to provide clean and affordable electricity to millions.
The 1,100 MW Karachi nuclear power plant (KANUPP) unit K-2 has successfully been connected to the national electricity transmission grid, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) announced on Thursday. It would offer access to affordable, reliable and clean energy and meet the rising electricity demand in the country.
The new unit is a “gift to the people on Pakistan Day’ (March 23), the PAEC chairman Muhammad Naeem said and congratulated his team on achieving the milestone. The fuel loading at K-2 commenced on December 1, 2020, after approval from the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority.
Pakistan’s national power grid received a huge boost with the completion of country’s first nuclear power plant with a generation capacity of 1,100 MW. Meanwhile another 1,100 MW K-3 unit is expected to be operational by the end of 2021 further easing power woes. The two new units together will account for nearly 10 per cent of the total generation capacity.
Pakistan built its first 137MW nuclear power plant at Karachi in 1972, which is still in operation. However KANUPP unit 1 is expected to permanently shut down after the new reactor units become active. The K-2 and K-3 reactor units, near the coastal city of Karachi, are powered by the Chinese Hualong One (HPR100) technology, a pressurised water reactor. Both units will each consist of a nuclear island, conventional island and balance of plant. Reactor units will have a life of 60 years.
Nuclear electricity
Pakistan now has six operational nuclear power stations and the successful addition of K-2 would take the country’s nuclear power generating capacity from an estimated 1430MW to 2530MW. PAEC plans to increase nuclear power capacity to 8800MW by 2030. The new units would help meet the electricity demand, which is around 25,000MW in summertime peak and 12,000MW in the winter.
Pakistan’s current energy mix is formed of about 58 per cent fossil fuels, 30 per cent hydropower and 10 per cent renewables and nuclear power. However, the country has tremendous potential for producing renewable energy, which is being explored extensively.
Last year, Prime Minister Imran Khan vowed that by 2030 Pakistan would produce 60 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources.
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