Pakistan's Chashma 4 connected to grid

Unit 4 at the Chashma nuclear power plant in Pakistan was connected to the grid on 29 June. The Chinese-supplied pressurised water reactor - the country's fifth power reactor - is expected to enter commercial operation by the end of August.

Unit 4 at the Chashma nuclear power plant in Pakistan was connected to the grid on 29 June. The Chinese-supplied pressurised water reactor (PWR) - the country's fifth power reactor - is expected to enter commercial operation by the end of August.

CNNC and PAEC representatives in Chashma 4's control room (Image: CNNC)

A ceremony was held on 1 July to mark the unit's grid connection, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced today. The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and CNNC.

Chashma 4 is one of two CNP-300 units built at the site, in Punjab province. Construction began on unit 3 in March 2011. It achieved first criticality on 3 October 2016 and was connected to the grid on 15 October. The unit entered commercial operation in December.

Construction of Chashma 4 began in late December 2011. The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority granted permission on 9 February for fuel to be loaded into the unit, which achieved first criticality on 15 March. CNNC said the unit was connected to the grid at 11.36am on 29 June and is expected to be in commercial operation by the end of August.

The Chashma site - also referred to as Chasnupp - is already home to two Chinese-supplied 300 MWe PWRs: unit 1, in commercial operation since 2000, and unit 2, in commercial operation since 2011. Pakistan also has a 125 MWe Canadian-supplied pressurized heavy water reactor, Karachi unit 1, which has been in commercial operation since 1972.

Two 1161 MWe Chinese-supplied Hualong One plants are also under construction at the Karachi site. Construction of Karachi 2 and 3 started in August 2015 and May 2016, respectively. The units are scheduled to enter service in 2021 and 2022.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News