Chashma Nuclear Power Plant


The Chashma Nuclear Power Plant or Chashma Nuclear Power Complex, near Chashma Colony and Kundian town, Mianwali District, Punjab, Pakistan, is a commercial nuclear power plant consisting of four operating units and one planned unit. Chashma Nuclear Power Plant reactors and other facilities are being built and operated by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission with Chinese support under the approval and guidelines of International Atomic Energy Agency.The original chairman for the Chashma Nuclear Project that began in 1993 was Ch. Mohd. Nawaz Cheema.
The IAEA as well as the United States Department of Energy recognised the urgency of Pakistan's energy needs, which is expected to grow seven to eight times by 2030.
In November 2006, The International Atomic Energy Agency approved an agreement with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission for new nuclear power plants to be built in the country with Chinese assistance. The 35-member Board of Governors of the IAEA unanimously approved the safeguards agreement for any future Nuclear Power Plants that Pakistan will be constructing.

Unit 1

The 325 MW unit 1 is a pressurised water reactor that began commercial operation in May 2000. It is an CNP-300 nuclear reactor design like the other 3 units in the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant, and the first Chinese export of a nuclear power plant.

Unit 2

The 325 MW unit 2, is like CHASNUPP-I. Unit 2 was officially inaugurated on 10 May 2011 by former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani.

Unit 3

On 28 April 2009 a general engineering and design contract for CHASNUPP-3 and CHASNUPP-4 was signed with Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute. The units will both have generation capacity of 340 MW and a design life of 40 years.On 6 March 2013 the dome of the third reactor was lifted into place.
The 340 MW Unit 3 was officially inaugurated on 28 December 2016 by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The reactor type is CNP-300.

Unit 4

CHASHNUPP-4 has been connected to national grid on 29 June 2017. Formal inauguration is to be held on 8 September 2017 by Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
The reactor type is also CNP-300.

Unit 5

In March 2013, Pakistan and China agreed to build a fifth unit. It will be an ACP-1000. China National Nuclear Corporation and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission had signed a cooperation agreement for the construction of a 1,100 MW ACP1000 nuclear reactor at the Chashma nuclear power plant in Punjab province in Pakistan.

Nuclear Engineering Training centre

The complex has its own training establishment, known as CHASCENT. CHASCENT houses a Full Scope Training Simulator for CHASNUPP-1 and a similar facility for CHASNUPP-2 is under construction. The simulator is used for providing training to the nuclear power plant operators. Apart from training nuclear plant operators the centre offers various engineering programs at diploma and degree levels. The centre is currently in a phase of expansion to cater to an ever-increasing demand for quality technicians and engineers within PAEC. It is largest Nuclear hub of Pakistan.