Pakistan eyes 8,000MW target with Chashma-5 project

Expected to deliver 1,200 megawatts (MW) of low-cost, safe, clean energy to the national grid is the under-construction Chashma-5 Nuclear Power Plant.

These comments were delivered by Chashma Nuclear Power Complex General Manager Engineer Habibur Rehman during a group of journalists’ briefing at the complex.

Declaring that the project was moving quickly, he said Pakistan was striving to increase the capacity for nuclear power generation to 8,000MW, therefore enabling nuclear energy to be a consistent part of the nation’s sustainable and reasonably priced energy mix.

On the occasion, media representatives toured several operational and under-construction units of the facility, where they were briefed on plant performance, safety protocols, technical systems, and environmental standards.

Operating six nuclear reactors with a total generating capacity of 3,530MW, Engineer Habibur Rehman pointed out that Pakistan today ranks among the top 20 nuclear power-producing nations worldwide.

After Chashma-5 is completed, the estimate for the amount is 4,730 MW, he said.

He said that the sophisticated Hualong One (HPR1000) third-generation pressurised water reactor formed the basis of the Chashma-5 project.

Development of the facility was under cooperation between China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). December 30, 2024 saw the first concrete for the project dumped.

Emphasising global tendencies, he observed that nuclear power was attracting interest once more worldwide.

Previously cutting back or intending to phase out nuclear power, several wealthy countries—including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, and South Korea—were now re-engaging in the industry and aggressively building new nuclear reactors.

The general manager claimed that nuclear energy was a safe, reasonably priced, ecologically beneficial source of electricity. About 13% of Pakistan’s total energy consumption in calendar year 2024 came from nuclear power. Its share peaked in December 2024 only at about 26.5%.