Pakistan plans to build two coastal nuke plants

Pakistan plans to build two coastal nuclear power plants with a capacity of 1,000 MW each in Karachi.

These willbe named Karachi Nuclear Power Plant-2 or KANUPP-2, and Karachi Nuclear Power Plant-3 or KANUPP-3.

These are intended to meet the future energy needs of the financial hub.

"The presidency and general headquarters are showing great interest in the projects which will have substantial allocations in the next budget," an unnamed Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission official was quoted as saying by The News.

The military leadership has been briefed about the project and the presidency too is showing interest in the coastal nuclear power projects, the official said.

The official noted that Pakistan is now seeking major allocations in the public sector development plan for 2012-13 and trhat they are in the process of carrying out the seismic survey of the coastal area where the nuclear plants are expected to be installed.

Karachi currently has an ageing nuclear power plant that can generate 80 MW. The two new plants will be called the CNPP-1 and CNPP-2.

Besides, authorities plan to build four nuclear power plants on the Taunsa Punjnad canal, about 32 km from Muzzafargarh in Punjab province.

These plants will generate 1,000 MW. Work on the third and fourth Chashma Nuclear Power Plants too is underway.

Chashma Nuclear Power Plant-3 is scheduled to be operational by December 2016 and the fourth plant in 2017.

Authorities are hoping to complete these two plants about eight months ahead of scheduled. Each plant will generate 325MW of electricity.

The Chashma complex already has two functional nuclear power plants that generate 650MW.

Under the energy security plan for 2005-2030, Pakistan plans to generate 8,800MW from nuclear power plants.