Chinese nuclear supplier China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has completed acceptance tests on the third unit of the Chashma nuclear power plant (also known as Chasnupp) in Pakistan.
The 315 MW (340 MW gross) pressurised water reactor reached first criticality on 2 October 2016, was connected to the national grid in late October 2016 and is expected to start commercial operation by end-2016. The project is developed by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, which already operates two Chinese-supplied 300 MWe PWRs, that were commissioned in 2000 and 2011. Two additional units, units 3 and 4, entered construction phase in 2011 and should be commissioned in late 2016 and mid 2017, respectively.
Pakistan also launched the construction of two 1,100 MW nuclear reactors at the 125 MW Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (Kanupp) in April 2015. The Karachi Coastal units (K2 and K3) will be built by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). Total investment is estimated at Rs 960bn (around US$9.2bn), with China financing 82% of total costs. Construction is expected to take 6 years and the reactors should be commissioned in 2021 and 2022.
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