KARACHI: Chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Dr. Ansar Pervaiz, while highlighting the long-term strategy devised to overcome the energy crisis, stated that under the Nuclear Power Vision, the overall of production of nuclear power will be raised to 40,000MW by 2050 by setting up many nuclear power plants across Pakistan.
Delivering a presentation on “The Nuclear Power Plants and The K-2/K-3 Project” during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Thursday, Chairman PAEC said that Karachi Nuclear Power Plant, Chashma Nuclear Power Unit-1 and Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit-2 have been producing a total of 755MW of nuclear power which will be raised to 3,535MW by 2021 on completion of under construction C-3, C-4, K-2 and K-3 projects.
“After 2021, PAEC will be focusing on commencing construction work on at least one Nuclear Power Plant project every year in order to achieve the desired targets”, he added.
President KCCI, Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra, Senior Vice President KCCI, Muhammad Ibrahim Kasumbi, Former Presidents KCCI, Mian Abrar Ahmed and Haroon Agar along with KCCI Managing Committee members attended the presentation.
With the construction of K-2 and K-3 projects, 10,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities will be created whereas the annual financial impact will be Rs10 billion and 10 million gallons of desalinated water per day will also be produced on completion of this project by 2021, Chairman PEAC said.
Dr. Ansar Pervaiz further stated that K-2 and K-3 projects were based on the Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) concept and a total of 279 PWRs are operating around the world including the two in Pakistan. Many safety features have been added to meet the enhanced safety targets of the new generation (Gen III) of reactors, he added.
He recalled that Pakistan’s first nuclear power plant – KANUPP – was established in 1972 and more than 42 years of its safe operation has provided the confidence to pursue nuclear power option. “The Chashma Nuclear Power Plants Unit-1 and Unit-2, built with the assistance of China were also operating successfully”, he added.
He was of the view that Pakistan needs to build more nuclear power plants to overcome severe energy shortfall as the electricity demand in Pakistan has been increasing at a much higher rate than the economic growth.
Highlighting the overall global scenario of Nuclear Power production, Chairman PAEC informed that China has taken the lead as construction of 25 nuclear power plants was underway in China, followed by 9 nuclear power plants in Russia, 6 in India, 5 in United States and 4 in Pakistan.
Earlier, while welcoming PAEC Chairman, President KCCI Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra pointed out that in developed economies over 40 percent of the electricity was being generated through nuclear plants being the cheapest energy source.
“It is unfortunate that half of our export earnings are spent on import of fuel oil for generating thermal power which is most expensive mode of power production”, he added and underscored the need to build more nuclear power plants to overcome severe energy shortfall.
President KCCI also appreciated the important contribution being made by PAEC to many socio-economic sectors for the nation, especially providing vital service through its medical centers.
