ON THE EVE OF KARACHI NUCLEAR POWER PLANT INAUGURATION UNIT-2 (K-2) September 30, 2021 (2021-8)

 

Karachi Nuclear Power Plant Unit-2 commonly referred to as K-2, formally inaugurated on 21st May, 2021, by honorable Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Imran Khan, is one of the two mega nuclear power plant (NPP) having generation capacity of 1100 MWe each, built at Paradise point near Karachi. K-2 has been built with the help of Pakistan's all-weather friend, China and is a third generation state-of-the-art power plant with improved safety system.

With the inauguration of K-2 PAEC is now running six NPPs in the country. To of them a located in Karachi and are named Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP) and K-2, while four sited at Chashma, in District Mianwali are named Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 4 (C-1-C-4). Earlier,collective generation capacity of all PAEC-operated NPPs was around 1,400MWe. The inauguration of K-2 as nearly doubled the generation capacity of nuclear power plants in the country, substantially improving the overall share of nuclear power in the energy mix. Karachi Nuclear Power Plant Unit-3 (K-3), is also in completion phase and is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2022. The K-2 nuclear plant has internal and external accident prevention ability and enhanced emergency response capability. It as a 60-year life expectancy, extendable to the further 20 years. The power plant is designed with higher plant availability and capacity factors and an extended refueling cycle.

The construction of K-2 plant had started in November 2013, whereas its fuel loading initiated on December 01, 2021, after approval from the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA). A series of cold and hot functional commissioning tests related to plant operation and safety were conducted, before achieving criticality at the end of February this year. After further reactor physics tests, the plant was connected to the national grid on March 18, 2021 for trial operation and power escalation tests. Addressing as chief guest of the virtual inauguration ceremony of K-2 held simultaneously at Prime Minister Office in Islamabad, K-2 NPP site in Karachi and Beijing China, Prime Minister expressed pleasure over addition of 1100 Megawatts of affordable, reliable and environment-friendly electricity in the national grid and hoped it world help mitigate the impact of globle warming. He said projects based on clean sources of electricity generation like hydel power and nuclear are need of the hour. "Clean energy is very important for us," he said, adding that transfer of technology will be beneficial for the country. He felicitated management of PAEC and Chinese contractor for making K-2 a reality.

The inauguration coincided with landmark event of 70 years of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan and 30 years of cooperation between the two countries in the field of using nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

On the occasion of inauguration of K-2, recorded video message from Director General (DG) International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi was played in which he congratulated Pakistan for embarking on the journey of using nuclear power as a clean source of energy.

On this occasion Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). Mr. Muhammad Naeem (HI, SI), in his welcome address thanked Prime Minister, Federal Ministers and Director General Strategic Plans Division (SPD) for their unwavering support for nuclear power in the country.

The ceremony was also attended by Mr. Hammad Azhar, Minister for Energy; Mr. Fawad Chaudhry, Minister for Information and Broadcasting: Mr. Omar Ayub Khan, Minister for Economic Affairs; Mr. Shibli Fraz, Minister for Science and Technology; Lt. Gen Nadeem Zaki Manj, DG SPD; Mr. Zhang Kejian Chairman (CAEA); Mr. Nong Rong, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan; Mr. Moin-ul-Haque, Ambassador of Pakistan to China and Mr. Yu Jianfeng, Chairman (CNNC).

Nuclear power is the future of Pakistan for being cheapest baseload energy source. It is environmentally less harmful for nearly zero emission levels and most importantly, the nuclear fuel is strategically viable for long-term storage as fuel for over one-year operation of nuclear power plants can be stored at the site, unlike furnace oil. The addition of clean reliable and cost-effective nuclear power in the energy mix of Pakistan will greatly benefit the society and country at large. It is high time for Pakistan to embrace nuclear power with open arms as it deserves a far better and prominent place than it currently occupies.

On the eve of Karachi Nuclear Power Plant Inauguration Unit-2 (K-2). Pakistan Post is issuing the Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs 20/- denomination on September 30, 2021.