PM Imran Inaugurates Karachi Nuclear Power Plant’s Unit-2

Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan virtually inaugurated the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant Unit-2 (KANUPP-2) on Friday (today).

The inauguration of the 1,100-megawatt plant coincides with the seventieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.

Speaking on the occasion, the PM said, “I am delighted to inaugurate this project that has been made possible with the collaboration between Pakistan and China”.


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He said that this project is particularly important for Pakistan as it is one of the ten countries that are most affected by climate change.

“Our glaciers are melting fast, our future generations will be up against a challenge if we do not reverse the process at the same pace,” he warned.

Regarding the importance of the project for bilateral relations, PM Khan said that it will be beneficial for the workforce within Pakistan and will also pave the way more for people-to-people contacts.

“I am glad that it is being inaugurated as we celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations with China,” he remarked.

 

According to an official statement issued on Thursday, the KANUPP-2 power plant is a generation III, state-of-the-art facility with improved safety systems, internal and external accident prevention ability, and enhanced emergency response capability.

The plant has a 60-year life expectancy that is extendable to 20 more years. It is designed with higher plant availability and capacity factors, and an extended refueling cycle.

The construction of the plant began in November 2013, but the fuel loading only started in December 2020 after the approval of the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA).


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With the addition of this operational plant, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission is now operating six nuclear power plants in the country. The collective generation capacity of all the previous five plants was nearly 1,400 MW, and now 1,100 MW have been incorporated with this new addition, thus improving the share of nuclear energy in the overall energy mix of the country.

KANUPP-1 and KANUPP-2 are located in Karachi; and four plants — Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1-4 — are located in Chashma, Mianwali district.

Another power plant — KANUPP-3 — with a capacity similar to the one inaugurated today, is also in the commissioning phase. It is expected to become operational by the first quarter of 2022.



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