The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) has officially granted a construction license to the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) for the establishment of the latest addition to the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant family, Unit 5 (C-5), on December 26th. This development comes following PAEC’s application for the construction license earlier this year in April, accompanied by a comprehensive preliminary safety assessment report (PSAR) along with other crucial licensing documents covering various aspects such as design, operational safety, radiation protection, emergency preparedness, waste management, and nuclear security. The PNRA has affirmed that the issuance of the license was the result of a meticulous review and assessment of all the submitted documents, ensuring that all regulatory requirements are met in alignment with both national and international standards.
C-5 is slated to be an advanced third-generation pressurized water reactor (PWR) designed in line with the Chinese Hualong One specifications (HPR1000). Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the unit will boast a range of safety features, both active and passive, including a double-shell containment structure and a reactor filtered venting system. With a projected design life of 60 years, C-5 marks the third HPR1000 unit to be established in Pakistan, following the successful commissioning of the first two units, K-2 and K-3, at the Karachi nuclear power plant. K-2 commenced commercial operations in May 2021, with K-3 closely following suit in April 2022. Notably, C-5 is expected to surpass its predecessors in terms of capacity, generating 1,200 MWe compared to the 1,100 MWe output of the previous units, thus solidifying its position as the largest electricity-producing nuclear power facility in Pakistan.
The expansion of the HPR1000 technology is not limited to Pakistan, as similar units are operational in China at the Fuqing plant located in Fujian province. Units 5 and 6 at the Fuqing site began commercial operations in January 2021 and March 2022, respectively. Furthermore, China National Nuclear Corp. (CNNC), a key player in the development of the HPR1000, recently announced the connection of Unit 1 in the Zhangzhou nuclear power plant in Fujian province to the grid. This marks the initiation of construction for four HPR1000 reactors at the Zhangzhou site. Additionally, China General Nuclear (CGN) also offers the Hualong One design, with two units at the Guangxi Fangchenggang Nuclear Power Plant in western China already commissioned.
The global reach of the Hualong One design is further underscored by the presence of 33 units currently in operation or under construction worldwide, solidifying its status as the leading third-generation nuclear power technology in deployment. In Pakistan, C-5 will complement the four existing CNP-300 units, another Chinese design boasting a capacity of approximately 300
