Karachi Nuclear Power Complex or KNPC

Source :    Date : 12-May-2017

Karachi Nuclear Power Complex or KNPC is located in Paradise Point, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It consists of Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP) and CIAL KARACHI. A new governmental power project "KANUPP-2" which is under construction is also included in this complex. KANUPP-1 and KANUPP-2 are both civilian nuclear power plants which will produce 1000 MW of electricity in Karachi. The Karachi Nuclear Power Complex is under the International Atomic Energy Agency's safeguard and inspection. The plant is under construction by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and financed by IAEA, China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group, China National Nuclear Corporation, and China Atomic Energy Authority.

 

The "CIAL" (Control & Instrumentation Analysis Lab) is a part of Karachi Nuclear Power Complex of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.

 

The Karachi Nuclear Power Plant, also known as KANUPP, is located at Paradise Point, Karachi. The KANUPP-I is a CANDU reactor supplied by the Canadian Government in 1972. It was inaugurated November 28, 1972 by then-President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. KANUPP-I is a single unit CANDU-PHWR with a total gross capacity of 137 MW. KANUPP-I remains in operation as of May 2014, and is limited to 85 MW. The KANUPP-I reactor, since from its beginning, is under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection and its safeguards

The KANUPP reactor site is on the Arabian Sea coast, about 11 miles (17.7 km) west of Karachi. The Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP) has a heavy water moderated and cooled natural uranium fuelled, horizontal pressure tube reactor. Other distinguishing features are once-through, on-power bidirectional fuelling, reactor shutdown by moderator dump, and a reactor building designed for total containment of any pressure or activity resulting from a credible accident.

KANUPP came into commercial operation in 1972 and after completing its 30 years of design life it was shut down on December 6, 2002. The plant became operational in 2006. At present the plant is undergoing several safety upgradations for operation beyond design life. On the request of KANUPP, the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority allowed the plant to operate at 50 MW for the interim period. However, the PAEC has declined any media reports of shutting down the nuclear power plant. However, on June 30, 2009, a senior official of PAEC, has stated that the KANUPP will be decommissioned in 2012. The KANUPP-II, an indigenous nuclear power plant build by PAEC, will be taking the place of the KANUPP-I. However, the work on the KANUPP-II has been put on hold since July 2009. In November 2013, Pakistan and China confirmed that two ACP1000 Nuclear reactor, also known as Hualong-1, KANUPP-2 and KANUPP-3, will be built at Karachi.

 

KANUPP-2

KANUPP-2 will cost $4.8 billion and produce around 1,100 MW. On 26 November 2013, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ceremonially broke ground on a new governmental power project at the Karachi Nuclear Power Complex for the construction of two CAP1400 Nuclear reactors, also known as Hualong-1, based on AP1000 Westinghouse Electric Company Pressurized water reactor. Dr. Ansar Pervaiz, the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, said that KANUPP-2 would begin commercial operations by 2022.

 

KANUPP-3

KANUPP-3 will cost $4.8 billion and produce around 1,100 MW. In November 2013, Pakistan and China confirmed that ACP1000 Nuclear reactor, based on [M310] Pressurized water reactor, will be built at Karachi and would begin commercial operation by 2023.

 

KANUPP-4

KANUPP-4, is a planned commercial nuclear power plant, to be located at Karachi.