Pakistan and China complete 3 decades of successful nuclear cooperation for peaceful purposes

Karachi: Pakistan and China have completed three decades of successful nuclear cooperation for peaceful purposes.

A new era in the nuclear power development program of Pakistan commenced with the signing of ‘Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy’ between governments of China and Pakistan in 1986.

However, the first concrete step in the remarkable journey was taken 30 years ago when China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) signed the contract for construction and installation of a 325 megawatt Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) at Chashma on December 31, 1991.

The cooperation strengthened with the construction of three more nuclear power plants at Chashma Nuclear Power Generation Station (CNPGS) site.

On Friday, Pakistan completed loading of nuclear fuel to the second 1,100 megawatt nuclear power plant in Karachi after getting a formal fuel load permit from Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA).

The important milestone coincided with three decades of successful nuclear cooperation between Pakistan and China, said an official statement by the PNRA.

Karachi Nuclear Power Plant Unit-3 commonly named, K-3 is in the final stages of commissioning and after operational and safety tests, the plant is expected to begin commercial operation by end of March 2022.

With the introduction of K-2 and K-3 into the national grid, the share of nuclear power in the energy mix of Pakistan will exceed 10 percent, said the PNRA statement.