China to build six nuclear power plants in Pakistan

Nuclear energy continues to find favor in two of Asia’s most militarily powerful countries.

Pakistan and China are close to a deal in which China will build at least six nuclear power plants throughout Pakistan. The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission expects all six to come online by 2023.

Four plants will be built at Karachi, Pakistan's largest city; another will rise at Sukkur in the interior of Sindh and one at Chashma in the Mianwaki district of Punjab province.

PAEC said land for the four planned Karachi plants has been acquired at Hawks Bay on the coast, adjacent to an existing plant.

The six additional nuclear power plants will have a total capacity of 4,345 megawatts by 2023. Added to the capacities of Pakistan’s existing nuclear plants and those in other plants soon to be built, Pakistan should have an installed nuclear capacity of 8,800 MW by 2030.

Nuclear power currently accounts for 700 MW of Pakistan's 18,000 MW total power generation capacity. Some12,350 MW of this total comes from thermal plants and 4,900 MW from hydro. Pakistan currently has three nuclear power plants.

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