Pakistan to buy 2 Nuclear Power Plants from China

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has planned to purchase two nuclear power plants  with a combined capacity of 2,000 megawatts from China, which will be  utilized for setting up Karachi Nuclear Power Plant-2 (Kanupp-2) and  Kanupp-3 and help mitigate the energy crisis. According to documents available with Our Sources, China National  Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC)  are likely to enter into an agreement to conduct a joint study to  finalize design modifications, which would enable Pakistan to acquire  two nuclear power plants, each having power generation capacity of 1,000  megawatts. After completion of this project, a contract for establishing Kanupp-2 and Kanupp-3 will be negotiated.

The Planning Commission has said CNNC may be asked to grant  intellectual property rights for the existing 1,000-megawatt plant and  suggest steps which could help Pakistan avoid violation of property  rights. China has three state-owned corporations, which can own and operate  nuclear power plants, including China National Nuclear Corporation  (CNNC), China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Company (CGNPC) and China  Power Investment Corporation (CPIC). CGNPC currently operates four nuclear power plants of 3,758 megawatts  in China and also involved in 16 other projects having capacity of  25,000 megawatts, which are under construction. The company’s focus has  been on three-loop 1,000-megawatt plants. The Planning Commission also questioned whether PAEC had approached  the three nuclear power plant developers in order to ensure fair  competition in offering the plants.the commission said.