By Saima Durrani
Pakistan’s existing energy mix is highly dependent on expensive fuels, like oil and gas and a disproportionate reliance on the imported fuels is exerting a strain on the balance of payments besides making the energy mix unfavourable.
In this scenario who would not be relieved in Pakistan to know that on the quiet shore of Arabian sea, not far from paradise point in the mega city of Karachi , surely but steadily a momentous project has been completed successfully i,e Pakistan’s largest nuclear power producing entity , the Karachi Nuclear Power Generating Station KNPGS. With the inauguration of the Karachi nuclear power plant unit-3 K3 to the national grid and its twin K2 already operational on this station, together will add 2200 Megawatts of electricity for national consumption.
Energy, being lifeline of socio-economic development of a country, occupies a dominant position as ensuring energy security is one of the important prerequisites of national development along with water and food supply. Pakistan is facing a formidable challenge of energy shortages with the demand outweighing its supply. The energy shortage has adversely affected all sectors of the economy resulting in an annual loss of up to three per cent of the GDP. Addition of 22,00 megawatts to nation’s energy mix would be a welcome and much needed step indeed.
Nuclear energy is clean and environmental friendly. Nuclear power is not only low‑carbon; it is also reliable when compared to other low‑carbon options. Compared with wind power, solar power and other energy sources, nuclear power plants operate for longer stretches for at least 12 to 18 months after a single refueling and have a relatively small footprint, making it an important part of base load energy for a country.
It is estimated that K-2 &K-3 will generate about 18 billion kWh of electricity annually and meet the annual electricity demand of more than 8 million households in Pakistan which is equivalent to reducing coal use by 3.12 million tonnes annually and avoiding the emission of 8.16 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.Construction of K2 and 3 has also driven the development of Pakistan’s economy and related industries. The local supply of equipment in Pakistan has increased significantly. During the peak period of the project construction, it has directly provided more than 10,000 jobs for Pakistan, and indirectly created more than 40,000 jobs through the industrial chain.
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission signed the contract for these two 1100 Megawatt each Generation-III nuclear power plants with China on 18th February, 2013 .
The cooperation on nuclear technology between Pakistan and China spans more than three decades. China is a big player in nuclear industry and is currently building more new nuclear reactors than any other country with plans for as many as 150 by 2030. Long before this, in this decade, China will overtake the US as the operator of world’s largest nuclear energy systems. The nuclear energy production cooperation between Pakistan and China hence seems not only the best possible and timely arrangement for country’s energy needs but speaks volumes about the sagacity of Commission’ early decision makers for their far sightedness.
These plants are based on the Generation-III technology also known as ACP-1000 or Hualong-1. This new design has incorporated the feedback from Fukushima incident. These plants are equipped with the double-wall containment design to bear the pressure from inside and can withstand the crash from large commercial aircraft from the outside. The plant life of K-2/K-3 is 60 years.
Ground breaking ceremony of this project took place in November, 2013 marking the formal start of the project leading to first concrete pour on 20th August 2014.Construction on both K-2 and K-3 units began in a sequential manner 10 months apart. Dome placement ofK-3 containment building was done on September 2018, which marked the completion of construction phase and project entered the installation and commissioning phase.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, both Pakistan and China ensured that important milestone of fuel loading for K-2 was accomplished in December 2020 after getting the fuel load license from Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority,K-2 nuclear power plant started its commercial operation on 21st May, 2021.Consequently after completing the installation, the nuclear fuel for K-3 was loaded in December 2021and it got connected to the national grid on 4th March2022.
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) with the help of China has already established a series of Nuclear power plants at Chashma, Mianwali. The Chashma Nuclear Power Generating Station (CNPGS) now comprises of four units with a total production capacity of over 1300 MW.
Nuclear power is indispensible when we think about how we can ensure a stable, affordable electricity supply while addressing climate change. All over the world stakeholders are coming to terms with nuclear new identity as clean power deserving of the same economic incentives as wind and solar.
For the world to mitigate climate change in the next 20 to 30 years, the energy sector needs to fundamentally transform into a low carbon energy supply system,” says an energy systems analyst of the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA. Nuclear power’s resilience and safety records make it well positioned to help the global community overcome these challenges. According to many scientists and famous philanthropist Bill Gates — nuclear energy is part of the answer to the world’s climate-change problem. The market for nuclear power could triple by 2050 across the world, according to a recent study.
Foregoing this scenario, it is heartening that through aegis of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, a milestone has been achieved in the form 22, 00 Megawatt addition to country’s electricity system paving the way for national development for years to come.