Pakistan's quest for nuclear energy
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Since the 1970s, Pakistan has been struggling to increase nuclear electricity capacity. The American sanctions and Nuclear Supplier Group’s denial approach impeded Pakistan’s nuclear power development. However, the generous Chinese assistance in the nuclear power plants construction at Chashma and Karachi increased the atomic power generation in the country.
Pakistan envisaged a nuclear power generation capacity of 40,000 Mega Watts (MWe) under its Nuclear Energy Vision 2050. Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission with 62 reactor-years of successful operating experience seems confident it can generate 8,000MW of electricity through nuclear means by 2030.
Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the 1,100 MWe Karachi Nuclear Power Plant Unit-2 last month. Its reactor has been purchased from China National Nuclear Corporation on a turn-key basis. The workable plant life is expected to be 60 years, and can extend to 80 years.
The operationalization of this plant is a landmark development. It lays the foundations of large-sized nuclear power plants in the country. Besides, it increases the pressure on the safety and security apparatus of the country.
Pakistan's nuclear security apparatus has evolved impressively over the past five decades. Therefore, there is no recorded incident of theft of nuclear material and accidents at nuclear facilities.
The Pakistani nuclear complex now includes two nuclear plant sites (Karachi and Chashma), with six nuclear power generating units with 2,332 MWe capacity. KANUPP-3 of 1,100 MWe is at its final stages and expected to be connected to the national grid soon.
Pakistan constructed its first nuclear power plant (Kanupp-1) in Karachi in 1972. Its construction was delayed due to the end of the vendor's assistance after India's nuclear explosion on May 18, 1974. The plant outlived its 30-year design life in 2002. It was re-licensed by the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority in 2004 after upgrades. PAEC has been operating it at a reduced capacity and it is planned to shut down.
The enriched fuel for the five nuclear reactors is imported from China. Kanupp-1 fuel is produced locally.
Many Pakistani energy experts view the ongoing development of nuclear energy projects as vital to battling the climate crisis and lowering Pakistan’s greenhouse gas emissions. However, many environmentalists reject nuclear energy over concerns about nuclear waste disposal, radioactive fallout, and the length of time it might take to develop the technology.
Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal
The nuclear power plants are under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards; therefore, Pakistan will not use their spent fuel for making plutonium—nuclear fissile material. There is a faulty perception that Pakistan will reprocess the spent fuel for military purposes.
Pakistan’s military nuclear program uses enriched uranium derived from its un-safeguarded indigenously built uranium enrichment facility. It did not violate its commitments with both nuclear supplier state(s) and IAEA.
Pakistan can only purchase nuclear reactors and nuclear fuel from China because the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) has adopted a denial approach towards Pakistan. The Group is a cartel of 48 nations created as a voluntary cartel in 1975 at the behest of the United States. It was established in response to India’s 1974 peaceful nuclear explosion codenamed ‘Buddha is Smiling.’
Ironically, the violators of the agreement have been receiving preferential treatment by NSG members since September 2008. In contrast, the state that abides by agreements has been denied access to nuclear material and fuel for civilian use by NSG.
The champions of nuclear nonproliferation, solar, wind, and hydro—renewable energy sources undervalue the advantages of nuclear energy.
Many Pakistani energy experts view the ongoing development of nuclear energy projects as vital to battling the climate crisis and lowering Pakistan’s greenhouse gas emissions. However, many environmentalists reject nuclear energy over concerns about nuclear waste disposal, radioactive fallout, and the length of time it might take to develop the technology.
The government is increasing electricity-producing units without paying serious attention to transmission and distribution capacity. Currently, the overall installed power generation capacity has reached 37,000 and demand is at 25,000 MW while the transmission and distribution capacity is only 22,000 MW. Therefore, despite surplus producing capacity, people are encountering interruptions in the power supply.
Nuclear power is an affordable alternative to the fossil fuel option for Pakistan. Therefore, the government needs to demystify the state of domestic nuclear energy and publicize its benefits. Besides, it can introduce public-private partnerships in increasing nuclear energy production.
– Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal is an Islamabad-based analyst and professor at the School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University. E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: @zafar_jaspal
