PM Shehbaz inaugurates K-3 nuclear power plant in Karachi
Power generation through K3 plant will cost Rs14/unit: Fuel consumption to produce per unit electricity will cost Rs1.2: Generation three power plant has been built with additional safety measures after Fukushima disaster
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is in Karachi where he inaugurated the K3 nuclear power plant Thursday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Completed with the Chinese assistance, the prime minister inaugurated K-3, the third unit of Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUP), which will produce 1,100 megawatts of electricity.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony on Thursday, Shehbaz Sharif said K-3 was a step forward in cooperation with Pakistan’s trusted friend China.
He congratulated the scientists and workers of Pakistan and China which led to the completion of the project.
He said the staff of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission who contributed to the project would be invited to the Prime Minister’s Office for public recognition.
The prime minister said in view of $27 billion energy import bill, Pakistan required alternative and cheaper sources of energy including solar, wind, hydel and nuclear.
He said Pakistan was gifted with enormous resources with the potential of producing 60,000 mega watts through hydel power, however, regretted that the power generation stood merely at 10,000 megawatt.
He recalled that the project of KANUP was finalized during the tenure of then prime minister Nawaz Sharif and expressed gratitude to the government of China for extending cooperation in this regard.
Shehbaz Sharif mentioned that the electricity projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor were greatly contributing to the country’s energy demands through the production of thousands of megawatts.
Director General International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi in a video message emphasized the importance of using safe use of nuclear energy as Pakistan faced challenges of climate change.
Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Raja Ali Raza Anwar said National Electric Power Regulatory Authority had declared KANUP as a high power-producing facility with its 27.15 percent production.
K2 and K3 power plants have been installed with the help of China. The total capacity of both the power plants is 2200 megawatts. Power generation by both the plants is cheaper and trustworthy as compared to other sources of electricity generation. In Pakistan, the share of nuclear energy is 8.1 percent.
Nuclear power plants can produce electricity for eight months without any halt. The per unit electricity production from K2 and K3 costs Rs14.
The fuel consumption in both the power plants to produce a unit of electricity costs Rs1.2. After paying the debt taken for installing the power plants, the per unit electricity production will be down to less than Rs10.
As against other power units, nuclear power stations are run at 79-83 percent capacity. Hydro power plants are run at 41 percent and Genco at 18.5 capacities while IPPs give production at 57 percent power capacity.
Nuclear fuel part measuring less than one inch produces electricity equal to one tonne of coal, 471 litre liquid fuel and 481 cubic metre gas.
The carbon product or vapours emitted by nuclear plants which pollute environment are zero in quantity.
As the price of nuclear fuel remain constant, the power produced by these plants also remains constant and does not see variations.
K2 and K3 nuclear power plants are generation three plants. The structure will remain safe even if an airplane hits or an earthquake jolts it. These power plants, after Fukushima disaster, have been built with additional safety measures.