PAEC gets construction licence for 1.2 GW Chashma Nuclear Plant

The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) has received a construction licence from the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) for the 1.2 GW Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit 5 (C-5) in Punjab.

PAEC’s application, submitted in April 2024, included the preliminary safety assessment report (PSAR) and documentation addressing nuclear safety, radiation protection, emergency preparedness, waste management, and security. Following a thorough review, the PNRA confirmed that the project met all regulatory requirements.

C-5 will feature an advanced third-generation pressurised water reactor (PWR) of the Chinese Hualong design (HPR1000), incorporating both active and passive safety systems, including a double-shell containment and reactor-filtered venting system. The unit is expected to be the largest electricity-producing nuclear plant in Pakistan upon completion.

This project further strengthens the nuclear cooperation between China and Pakistan, as C-5 is the seventh nuclear unit China has exported to Pakistan, and the third utilizing HPR 1000 technology.