China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has lifted the dome of the 1,100 MWe (gross) third unit of the Karachi Coastal Nuclear Power Plant project (Karachi-3) in Pakistan into place, which marks the transition from the civil construction phase to the proper equipment installation of the unit.
The Karachi facility located in the Sindh province of Pakistan comprises a small PHWR (90 MW) commissioned in 1971 and under international safeguards, and two 1,100 MWe Chinese-designed ACP-1000 units (Hualong One pressurised water reactors or PWR) under construction, namely Karachi-2 and Karachi-3. Karachi-2 broke ground in 2015, while Karachi-3 entered the construction phase in 2016. Commercial operation is expected for 2021 and 2022, respectively. China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and China Nuclear Engineering and Construction Corporation (CNEC) have been selected to build the project on a turnkey basis.
Pakistan also has four operating PWRs in Chashma (Chasnupp-1-2, rated 300 MW each and Chasnupp 3-4, rated 315 MW each), which were commissioned between 2000 and 2017.