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{{Short description|Power source providing Pakistan electricity}}{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}{{Use Pakistani English|date=November 2022}}{{Electricity generation in Pakistan}}{{Location map+|Pakistan|float=right|width=300|places={{Location map~|Pakistan|label=Chashma|lat=32.020172|long=72.207506 |position=left |mark=Location dot red.svg}}{{Location map~|Pakistan|label=Nilore|lat= 33.65265168367541 |long= 73.24529118160538 |mark=Location dot green.svg}}{{Location map~|Pakistan|label=Karachi|lat=24.833333|long=66.783333 |mark=Location dot red.svg}}

8px)  Commercial active plants(image:Location dot green.svg|8px)  Research active plants}}In Pakistan, nuclear power is provided by six commercial nuclear power plants with a net capacity of {{convert|3262|MW|GW}} from pressurized water reactors.WEB, Nuclear Power in Pakistan - World Nuclear Association,world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-o-s/pakistan.aspx, world-nuclear.org, 16 March 2024, In 2020, Pakistan’s nuclear power plants produced a total of 133 terawatt-hours of electricity, which accounted for roughly 10% of the nation’s total electric energy generation.WEB, Pakistan 2020,cnpp.iaea.org/countryprofiles/Pakistan/Pakistan.htm, 2 June 2021, cnpp.iaea.org, WEB, (PAEC), Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Prime Minister inaugurates 340 MW Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit-2: Govt to provide full support to PAEC for Nuclear Power Projects Urges International Community to make nuclear technology accessible to Pakistan for power generation, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission’s Press Directorate, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Directorate for Public Press and International News Relations, 12 May 2011,www.paec.gov.pk/p-mj11-news1b.htm, {{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}Pakistan is the first country in the Muslim world to construct and operate commercial nuclear plants, with first being commissioned in 1972.{{rp|31–33}}Nuclear power in Pakistan, Dr. Zia H. Siddiqui and Dr. I.H. Qureshi, pp.31–33.As of 2023, there is one nuclear power plant is that being constructed and the other is in design phases to produce gross energy capacity of {{convert|1000|MW|GW}}, while one has been permanently shut down.WEB,www.dawn.com/news/1734533, Expansion in nuclear power generation hits snags, 31 January 2023, The nuclear power in Pakistan is regulated through the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA), which grants licenses and their renewals, while the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) manages the operations of the nuclear power plants.WEB, Nuclear Power Plants- PNRA,www.pnra.org/npps.html, www.pnra.org, 16 March 2024, WEB, Nuclear Power,paec.gov.pk/NuclearPower/, 16 March 2024, Due to the country’s refusal to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and accept full-scope IAEA safeguards, the imports and access to the reactor technology has been restricted by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Under its current policy to address its energy security, the country plans on constructing 32 commercial nuclear power plants by 2050-51.WEB, Dawn.com, 17 September 2015, Pakistan envisions 40,000MW of nuclear power generation capacity: PAEC,www.dawn.com/news/1207543, 2 June 2021, Dawn, Pakistan, en, In the past, Canada partnered with Pakistan in providing the nation’s first nuclear power plant in 1965 and later, China and the IAEA has provided support in providing the nuclear power plants since 1993 at address its challenges relating to energy security. History In 1960, the plans on the construction for nation’s first nuclear power plant were submitted to the Ayub administration by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, with support from the Abdus Salam who was serving in capacity as Science Advisor to the Government of Pakistan at that time. In fact, it was Abdus Salam’s efforts that led to the approval of the country’s first commercial nuclear power plant at the Paradise Point in Karachi, Sindh.JOURNAL, Professor Riazuddin , Riazuddin (physicist), Contribution of Abdus Salam as Member of PAEC, The Nucleus, 42, 1–2, 31–34, The Nucleus PINSTECH publication, Nilore, Islamabad , 13 October 2005,www.thenucleuspak.org.pk/nucleus/pdf%20Special%20Issue%20Nucleus%2042%281-4%29/Contributions%20of%20Professor%20Abdus%20Salam%20%28ms603%29.pdf, 0029-5698, dead,www.thenucleuspak.org.pk/nucleus/pdf%20Special%20Issue%20Nucleus%2042%281-4%29/Contributions%20of%20Professor%20Abdus%20Salam%20%28ms603%29.pdf," title="web.archive.org/web/20140627133716www.thenucleuspak.org.pk/nucleus/pdf%20Special%20Issue%20Nucleus%2042%281-4%29/Contributions%20of%20Professor%20Abdus%20Salam%20%28ms603%29.pdf,">web.archive.org/web/20140627133716www.thenucleuspak.org.pk/nucleus/pdf%20Special%20Issue%20Nucleus%2042%281-4%29/Contributions%20of%20Professor%20Abdus%20Salam%20%28ms603%29.pdf, 27 June 2014, dmy-all , JOURNAL, Siddiqui, Dr. Zia, Dr. Iqbal Hussain Qureshi, Nuclear power in Pakistan, The Nucleus, 42, 1–2, 63–66, The Nucleus PINSTECH publication, Nilore, Islamabad, 13 October 2005,www.thenucleuspak.org.pk/nucleus/pdf%20Special%20Issue%20Nucleus%2042%281-4%29/Nuclear%20Power%20in%20Pakistan%20%28ms611%29.pdf, 0029-5698, dead,www.thenucleuspak.org.pk/nucleus/pdf%20Special%20Issue%20Nucleus%2042%281-4%29/Nuclear%20Power%20in%20Pakistan%20%28ms611%29.pdf," title="web.archive.org/web/20120306133728www.thenucleuspak.org.pk/nucleus/pdf%20Special%20Issue%20Nucleus%2042%281-4%29/Nuclear%20Power%20in%20Pakistan%20%28ms611%29.pdf,">web.archive.org/web/20120306133728www.thenucleuspak.org.pk/nucleus/pdf%20Special%20Issue%20Nucleus%2042%281-4%29/Nuclear%20Power%20in%20Pakistan%20%28ms611%29.pdf, 6 March 2012, dmy-all, During this time, the Ayub administration successfully negotiated the Canadian government that allowed the GE Canada to work with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission in designing and constructing the country’s first commercial nuclear power in 1965.{{rp|54–55}}BOOK, Khan, Feroz, Eating Grass: The Making of the Pakistani Bomb, 7 November 2012, Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA, US, 978-0-8047-8480-1, 552,books.google.com/books?id=yGgrNAsKZjEC&q=canada&pg=PA203, 16 March 2024, en, In 1965, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission’s Centre for Nuclear Studies (CNS) was able to design and construct its own small reactor, known as the Pakistan Atomic Research Reactor (PARR-I) in Nilore.{{rp|94–95}} The fuel bundles were for this reactor were, however, provided by the United States Atomic Energy Commission (USAEC) through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for research and training purposes only.{{rp|193}} The first commercial nuclear power plant was design on the basis of CANDU-type which was earlier offered to India (in 1955) but Canada had its priced at US$ 10 million {{USDCY|10000000|1965}} which was too expensive for the country’s taxpayers to afford.{{rp|30–31}}The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission eventually negotiated with the GE Canada to redesign the reactor for Pakistan-specific needs, which resulted in a {{cvt|137|MW|GW}} CANDU-type pressurised heavy water reactor and it featured stark differences in the reactor designs supplied to India by Canada.{{rp|110}}{{rp|3–4}}{{rp|3–4}}WEB, Ghoshroy, Subrata, Parvez Butt,web.mit.edu/stgs/pdfs/Website%20BiosV2.pdf, www./web.mit.edu, Conference on Security and Cooperation in South Asia: A Global Perspective, 13 August 2020, Cambridge, Mass. USA, 23, en-us, 10 October 2007, Start of commercial nuclear power On 28 November 1972, the country’s first nuclear power plant, the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP), was commissioned and went online with nation’s electric grid system.BOOK, Nation’s First Nuclear Power Plant Is Inaugurated in Karachi, 1972, Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan., Pakistan,books.google.com/books?id=6VI8AQAAIAAJ&dq=pakistan+first+muslim+world+kanupp&pg=PP375, 17 March 2024, en, NEWS, Pakistan Makes Achievements in Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy, Xinhua General Overseas News Service, 27 October 1979,www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/chronology_1974.html, dead,www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/chronology_1974.html" title="web.archive.org/web/20110918040826www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/chronology_1974.html">web.archive.org/web/20110918040826www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/chronology_1974.html , 18 September 2011, dmy-all, Reportedly constructed at the taxpayer’s cost of US$23 million {{USDCY|23000000|1972}}, the commissioning of KANUPP reactor provided a distinction to Pakistan as a “first in the Muslim world to have an operating nuclear power station.” In 1973, the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s administration entered in several nuclear power agreements with France, Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom but Zulfikar Ali Bhutto administration’s refusal to be a party of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) restricted any meaningful agreements with any of the European nuclear fuel suppliers.{{rp|104–105}}After the India’s first nuclear test in 1974, Canada and France became party of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) that restricted any cooperation on nuclear power with the country unless the country becomes the party of the NPT.{{rp|105–110}} In the absence of the foreign cooperation, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission worked on feasibility studies for its own power reactor and had secured funding for the nuclear power plant at the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant from the Zia administration in 1980.{{rp|105–110}} In 1985, the project was delegated to the former Soviet Union who later decided against participating in the project.WEB , Soviet Ambassador Says Soviets Might Sell Pakistan A Nuclear Plant ,www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/chronology_1990.html , 26 February 1990, dead ,www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/chronology_1990.html" title="web.archive.org/web/20101108072529www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/chronology_1990.html">web.archive.org/web/20101108072529www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/chronology_1990.html , 8 November 2010, dmy-all , Benazir Bhutto’s administration again held unsuccessful negotiations with France on participating in the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant in 1990.“Pakistan: Details on Bhutto-Mitterrand News Conference,” Islamabad Domestic Service, 21 February 1990 Eventually, the Sharif administration entered in successful negotiation with China for the construction of the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant in 1993.“Agreement with China on Power Plant: “Safeguarded” By IAEA,” PTV Television Network (Islamabad), 12 August1992; Proliferation Issues, 20 August 1992, Pg. 16WEB, 21 May 2021, Nuclear Power Plants: When a friend came to Pakistan’s rescue -,www.globalvillagespace.com/nuclear-power-plants-when-a-friend-came-to-pakistans-rescue/, 2 June 2021, Global Village Space, en-GB, On 14 September 2000, the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant was commissioned and went online with the country’s grid electric grid system.WEB, Chashma Nuclear Power Plant 1,www.world-nuclear.org/reactor/default.aspx/CHASNUPP-1, www.world-nuclear.org, 19 August 2020, Since 2000, Pakistan has signed multiple bilateral agreements with China in expanding its energy needs through nuclear power at the Karachi Nuclear Power Complex and the Chashma Nuclear Power Complex that has alleviated its economy and provided energy security to the country.WEB, 19 March 2021, K-2 nuclear power plant connected to grid,www.dawn.com/news/1613286, 2 June 2021, Dawn, Pakistan, en, The agreement with China on acquiring the nuclear power reactor technology was entrusted and transferred through the International Atomic Energy Agency’s remedial and its safeguards.WEB, 21 May 2021, PM Khan inaugurates Kanupp-2 Nuclear Power Plant in Karachi,nation.com.pk/21-May-2021/pm-khan-inaugurates-kannup-2-nuclear-power-plant-in-karachi, 2 June 2021, The Nation, en, International cooperation China Since 2000, Pakistan and China have signed multiple bilateral agreements on the issues of nuclear power under the IAEA’s permission and safeguards.WEB, Shabbir, Usman, Remembering Unsung Heroes: Munir Ahmed Khan,www.defencejournal.com/2004-5/print/p-cvs.asp, www.defencejournal.com, Defense Journal, 19 August 2020, Islamabad, en-us, 5 May 2004, live,www.defencejournal.com:80/2004-5/print/p-cvs.asp," title="web.archive.org/web/20050118092337www.defencejournal.com:80/2004-5/print/p-cvs.asp,">web.archive.org/web/20050118092337www.defencejournal.com:80/2004-5/print/p-cvs.asp, 18 January 2005, Outside China, Pakistan is the only country that has commissioned and successfully operates the Chinese pressurized water reactorswww.uxc.com/smr/uxc_SMRDetail.aspx?key=CNP-300 Info on CNP-300 at Ux Consulting In 1993, China agreed on supplying the {{cvt|324|MW|GW}} CNP-300 reactor, which Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission had to conducted several lengthy safety and quality assurances tests. Cooperation of China and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with Pakistan’s nuclear power expansion has been critical for Pakistan’s energy security matters since the hydroelectricity has been a subject of political controversies between the four provinces of Pakistan.WEB, Nuclear Power,www.paec.gov.pk/NuclearPower/, 2 June 2021, paec.gov.pk, In 2005, the Ministry of Finance had approved {{PKRConvert|51.461|b|0|nolink=(yes)|to=US|year2004=}} for the construction of the second nuclear power plant in Chashma Nuclear Power Plant, alongside a separate safeguard agreement between Pakistan and IAEA allowed the country to operate the nuclear power plants under the safe manner and only be used only for power generation. Under the 2005 Energy Security Agreement signed between Pakistan, China, and the IAEA, it is expected to increase power generation through nuclear power by 2030.JOURNAL, Ijaz, Muhammad, Director of Scientific Information and Public Relation (SIPR), PAEC assigned 8,800 MWe nuclear power target by 2030:PAEC contributing to socio-economic uplift of the country, PakAtom Newsletter, 49, 1–2, 1–8, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory, December 2010,www.paec.gov.pk/newsletters/pkatm-n/p-nd10.pdf, 27 February 2011, {{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}Since 2000, Pakistan has commissioned Chinese-exported {{cvt|1000|MW|GW}} pressurized water reactors at its sites in Karachi and Chashma.WEB,tribune.com.pk/story/572141/with-chinese-assistance-ecnec-set-to-approve-three-nuclear-power-plants/, With Chinese assistance: ECNEC set to approve three nuclear power plants – The Express Tribune, 4 July 2013, The Express Tribune, 1 April 2018, NEWS,www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN_Commitment_for_new_Pakistan_reactors_1106131.html, Commitment for new Pakistan reactors, World Nuclear News, 11 July 2013, 30 September 2013, The cooperation between China and Pakistan on commercial nuclear power plants has attracted controversies due to Pakistan being nonsignatory to the NPT treaty.WEB,www.foxnews.com/world/2013/03/21/china-pakistan-reach-controversial-deal-on-nuclear-power-plant-sources-say/, China, Pakistan reach controversial deal on nuclear power plant, sources say, 21 March 2013, Fox News, 1 April 2018, WEB,armscontrolnow.org/2011/06/21/germany-opposes-united-states-on-china-pakistan-nuclear-deal/, Germany Opposes United States on China-Pakistan Nuclear Deal, 21 June 2011, armscontrolnow.org, 1 April 2018, The Pakistan and China have refuted and rebuffed the controversy with China informing the IAEA that the nuclear power reactors’ exports are under the IAEA terms as all the nuclear power plant sites are placed under the IAEA inspections and international safeguards.NEWS , Samanta , Pranab Dhal , Out in open: China tells IAEA it’ll sell n-reactors to Pakistan , The India Express , 24 September 2010,www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/chronology.html ,www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/chronology.html" title="web.archive.org/web/20110818074251www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/chronology.html">web.archive.org/web/20110818074251www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/chronology.html , 18 August 2011, dead , India, which is also not a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, has been critical of Pakistan’s nuclear power expansion and has criticized the safety design features incorporated into the nuclear power reactors exported to Pakistan from China.NEWS, Why Indians are not welcome members at the NSG club, Chari, P.R.,www.dnaindia.com/analysis/comment_why-indians-are-not-welcome-members-at-the-nsg-club_1565171, Daily News and Analysis (DNA), 13 July 2011, 1 August 2011, France In 2009, the Gillani administration held talks with French government on cooperation relating to reactor technologies, which was said to be a “significant development” between two nations by the Gillani administration’s Foreign ministry. Contrary to the Gillani administration expectations, the Sarkozy presidency was careful in its response, which was only interested in nonproliferation issues with Gillani administration.“NEWS, 15 May 2009, Pakistan in ‘French nuclear deal’, en-GB,news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8052587.stm, 22 April 2022, In 2013, the French Ambassador to Pakistan, Philippe Thiebaud, opened the option of “civil nuclear cooperation at request” between two nation in line of international obligations.WEB, 2 October 2013, Civil-nuclear cooperation: French govt says option can be explored at request,tribune.com.pk/story/612657/civil-nuclear-cooperation-french-govt-says-option-can-be-explored-at-request, 22 April 2022, The Express Tribune, en, In spite of engagement between two nations in 2009 and 2013, no agreements have been reached between two nations owing to the France’s strategic ties with India . United States In a U.S.–Pakistan strategic dialogue on 24 March 2010, Pakistan pressed for a civil nuclear cooperation deal similar to that with India, though the request was denied by the United States but the talks were held on nonproliferation matters.WEB,gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20100324_6901.php, Pakistan Pursues Nuclear Deal at High-Level Talks With U.S. – Analysis – NTI, gsn.nti.org, 1 April 2018, NEWS , Pakistan-United States nuclear deal long way off , Xinhua News Agency , 1 , State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission , 29 March 2010,news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-03/29/c_13228143_2.htm ,news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-03/29/c_13228143_2.htm" title="web.archive.org/web/20110609224820news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-03/29/c_13228143_2.htm">web.archive.org/web/20110609224820news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-03/29/c_13228143_2.htm , dead , 9 June 2011 , Japan {{see also|Pakistan–Japan relations}}In 2011, President Asif Ali Zardari unsuccessfully persuaded Japanese government on signing a civil nuclear agreement that reflected the similar contract between India and Japan on nuclear cooperation; this was denied by the Japanese government.NEWS, Michealson, David, Japan denied the civil nuclear power cooperation with Pakistan, Daily Jang, Tokyo, Japan, 3–4, ur, Jang Group of Newspapers, 27 February 2011,jang.com.pk/jang/feb2011-daily/27-02-2011/main3.htm,www.jang.com.pk/jang/feb2011-daily/27-02-2011/main3.htm," title="web.archive.org/web/20110302012633www.jang.com.pk/jang/feb2011-daily/27-02-2011/main3.htm,">web.archive.org/web/20110302012633www.jang.com.pk/jang/feb2011-daily/27-02-2011/main3.htm, 2 March 2011, dead, dmy-all, [ Japan denied the civil power cooperation with Pakistan]Before the state visit of President Zardari, Japan held talks with Pakistan which was focused only on nonproliferation issues and stability in South Asia.NEWS, Pakistan and Japan signed Nuclear non-proliferation Agreement, Daily Jang, Tokyo, Japan, 1, ur, Jang Group of Newspapers, 2011,jang.com.pk/jang/jan2011-daily/17-01-2011/main4.htm,www.jang.com.pk/jang/jan2011-daily/17-01-2011/main4.htm," title="web.archive.org/web/20110120035700www.jang.com.pk/jang/jan2011-daily/17-01-2011/main4.htm,">web.archive.org/web/20110120035700www.jang.com.pk/jang/jan2011-daily/17-01-2011/main4.htm, 20 January 2011, dead, dmy-all, Nuclear power plants{| class“wikitable sortable“|+ Nuclear Power Plants in Pakistan !Commercial Nuclear Power Plants !! Acronym !! Commission !! Decommission !! Lifetime !! Net Capacity !! IAEA safeguards

Pakistan Atomic Research Reactor >

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Karachi Nuclear Power Complex >

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K2}} in {{small>}}{{small>K3}} in {{small

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Chashma Nuclear Power Complex >

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Total net capacityThermal capacity

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{{center|Source: WEB, PNRA -- Nuclear Power Plants,www.pnra.org/npps.html, }}

Nuclear Fuel cycle

After 1974, Pakistan has worked independently in its ability and capability to developed indigenous nuclear fuel cycle.{{rp|114}} The front-end and the back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle technology was developed at its Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology laboratory while the atomic energy commission conducted several studies with the Geological Survey of Pakistan for the prospect of uranium exploration.{{rp|114}}There are several uranium mining sites throughout Pakistan where the mineral excavation and refinement of ores took place, most of the which the reservations are owned by the Ministry of Energy (MoE) for nuclear fuel cycle. {{rp|110–114}} Built in 1980, the Kundian Nuclear Fuel Complex is a premier facility where nuclear fuel bundles for the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant are manufactured.{{rp|114–115}} The uranium conversion facility in Islamabad converts the yellowcake (uranium oxide or urania) into the uranium hexflouride (UF6) gas before commencing the industrial enrichment at Gadwal Enrichment Plant for nuclear power production for the nuclear power sites in Karachi and Chashma.{{rp|100:102}}WEB, Pakistan’s Growing Uranium Enrichment Program {{!, Institute for Science and International Security |url=https://isis-online.org/isis-reports/detail/pakistans-growing-uranium-enrichment-program/12 |website=isis-online.org |access-date=20 March 2024 |language=en}}In 2006, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission was approved for funding by the federal government to construct the Pakistan Nuclear Power Fuel Complex to locally manufacture fuel bundles for the Chasma Nuclear Power Plant.NEWS, Associate Press of Pakistan (APP), IAEA declares nuclear energy programme safe,dawn.com/2011/04/25/iaea-declares-pakistan-nuclear-program-safe/, 17 April 2012, Dawn, Pakistan, 25 April 2011, Unlike the Kundian, Gadwal, and Islamabad, this facility is under IAEA safeguards with regular inspections and monitoring of its operations.WEB In 2015, the Ministry of Energy sat a target of producing {{convert|350|t|kg}} of triuranium octoxide (U3O8) per year from 2015 to meet one third of anticipated requirements then.

Nuclear reprocessing

{{See also|Reactor-grade plutonium}}There are many nuclear processing sites in Pakistan that can produce the by-products of plutonium in varying qualities and grades of plutonium.{{rp|191–192}} The reactor-grade plutonium is produced at the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant and the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant, both of which, have separate plutonium separation facility and under the IAEA safeguard programs.{{rp|103}} Production of weapon-grade plutonium takes place in Nilore and Khushab, both of which, are separated from the nuclear power generation– therefore unsafeguarded from the IAEA inspections.At the back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle, the spent fuel undergoes of chemical process, reprocessing, to collect the reactor-grade plutonium and decaying uranium at the separate sites in Karachi and Chashma.{{rp|103}} At Karachi and Chashma, the plutonium extracted from the spent nuclear fuel which is monitored and requires the atomic energy commission to report the plutonium activities to IAEA.{{rp|423}} At Karachi and Chashma, the dismantling, storages, and separation of uranium and plutonium fuel rods from other impurities from tributyl phosphate solvent are all reported in its solid form to as a nuclear fuel to run the nuclear power plants.NEWS, Khan, Munir Ahmad, 7 February 1998, How Pakistan Made Nuclear Fuel, The Nation (Pakistan), The Nation, The heavy water to be used as a coolant in Karachi and Chashma nuclear power plants is produced at the heavy water facility in Multan, Punjab in Pakistan.{{rp|192–198}}Without the international cooperation, the atomic energy commission spent decades on learning the nuclear reprocessing as most studies were conducted at the second Pakistan Atomic Research Reactor located in Pinstech laboratory.JOURNAL, Chaudhri, M. A., May 2006, Pakistan’s Nuclear History: Separating Myth from Reality, Defence Journal, 9, 10, 14–50, Under the IAEA guidelines and monitoring, the plutonium separation sites at the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant and the Chasma Nuclear Power Plant have expanded to increase the nuclear power generation and to address Paksitan’s energy security issues.WEB, IAEA, Pakistan to enhance cooperation in nuclear technology uses in health and climate,gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/iaea-pakistan-to-enhance-cooperation-in-nuclear-technology-uses-in-health-and-climate-1.93895424, gulfnews.com, en, 16 February 2023, The back-end nuclear fuel cycle is managed by the IAEA-authorized contractor, the China-Pakistan Power Plant Corporation.WEB

Waste disposal

The nuclear and hazardous waste is managed by the Pakistan’s nuclear regulartory authority and has taken steps to ensure the safe disposal of the hazardous waste since 1972.WEB, (NSD), Nuclear Safety Directorate, Nuclear Safety Policy of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, PAEC, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, March 2010,www.paec.gov.pk/nsp-paec.htm,www.paec.gov.pk/nsp-paec.htm," title="web.archive.org/web/20101112184426www.paec.gov.pk/nsp-paec.htm,">web.archive.org/web/20101112184426www.paec.gov.pk/nsp-paec.htm, 12 November 2010, dead, dmy-all, Monitoring of the waste management and federal regulatory oversights are provided by the Pakistan’s nuclear regulatory authority in a series of guidelines at their Radioactive Waste Management Facility.WEB, PNRA, Guidelines for the Management of Radioactive Waste (MRW) in hospitals/nuclear research and nuclear medical centers., PAEC, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, March 2010,docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:nrSymmFSPLQJ:www.pnra.org/guidelines/Guide%2520on%2520RWM%2520at%2520Hospitals-research-2004.doc+Radioactive+Wastes+Management+in+Pakistan&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESie2XV9tWrDdCURcK5dtg5ZlCyGhyLbu1yl7gTxHm2h7E24IoDLtdnSd8pfnMPccuo96uufRXEg5zJHShR5aRmHIojLNtqf2iGSVogU-H18tYht3xtdl1lPbXbeRCKDO8cMvAYS&sig=AHIEtbTwCOoFFj5BzZOYIL1XKPL7Nxz_LQ, google docs, The nuclear waste is stored at the Baghalchur-1 facility, which became a subject of political controversy when the residents filed a lawsuit against the atomic energy commission at the Supreme Court of Pakistan.NEWS, Kaleem, Moosa, Herald Exclusive: Nuclear hazards,www.dawn.com/news/1092251, 21 March 2024, DAWN.COM, 10 March 2014, en, The case was eventually settled between the Pakistan’s atomic energy commission and the legal firms representing the residents amid the intervention from the nuclear regulatory authority.In light of the lawsuit, the nuclear regulatory authority’s guidelines were eventually signed into the law enacted by the Parliament of Pakistan in 2010.WEB, PNRA, Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Regulations of Radioactive Waste Management, PNRA, Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority, March 2010,docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:7DMhFUEJiYwJ:www.pnra.org/legal_basis/PAK-915.pdf+Radioactive+Wastes+Management+in+Pakistan&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESglZF_bbC6mNow9hg3iJ0VjRK3-xkX0oEtInEOdmePMTWAi7bhaSm1AaZkb7v-EfmEHfLQur5J7oN-g7tONJ_CqG5To4ArJ8VdKc-ZCX7cGDapYj69h-ktCYWGHUM7tzqRD2Sf3&sig=AHIEtbSakh-0r2OGkXjUj48C2zNsVCOHCA, google docs, There are four deep nuclear waste repositories in Southern Pakistan.WEB, Radioactive Waste Management Facility,www.pnra.org/pprwmf.html, pnra, The extremely high hazardous nuclear waste is being managed in the most-northern side of southern region while the low nuclear waste is being managed in the southern region of the country.Ibid, Radtion Active Waste Management Facility

Organizations

Industry and academic

The Pakistan Nuclear Society (PNS) is a scientific and educational society that has both industry and academic members.WEB, (PNS), Pakistan Nuclear Society, Pakistan Nuclear Society,pns.org.pk/index.asp,pns.org.pk/index.asp," title="web.archive.org/web/20120320200520pns.org.pk/index.asp,">web.archive.org/web/20120320200520pns.org.pk/index.asp, 20 March 2012, dead, dmy-all, The nuclear society lobbies for the cause of the nuclear power generation by holding conferences and publishing papers on civilian nuclear technology at its journal.{{Citation | last =(PNS) | first =Pakistan Nuclear Society’s affiliation | title =Related Links | url =http://pns.org.pk/Rlinks.htm | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120320200513pns.org.pk/Rlinks.htm | archive-date =20 March 2012 | url-status =dead | df =dmy-all }}On the topic of nuclear engineering and reactor physics, the Pakistan’s atomic energy commission has sponsors large publication in its quarterly magazine— The Nucleus.{{Citation The other organizations that also the country’s industry and the academics are part of included the CANDU Owners Group and the World Association of Nuclear Operators.

Employment

In 2021, the assessment compiled by the China’s National Nuclear Corporation, the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant’s construction works has promoted the development of related industries in Pakistan, providing more than 10,000 jobs for the local area.NEWS, Fuel loading under way at first Pakistani Hualong One : New Nuclear – World Nuclear News,world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Fuel-loading-under-way-at-first-Pakistani-Hualong, 9 April 2021, world-nuclear-news.org,

Nuclear Power Programme 2050

The Nuclear Power Program 2050 is an official policy measure program of the federal Government of Pakistan to utilize the nuclear power to meet to increase its energy capacity to support the national economy of Pakistan.WEB, Official Policy,www.mofa.gov.pk/mfa/pages/print.aspx?id=1154&type=3, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 23 November 2012, Raza Bashir Tarar, Acting Permanent Representative of Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council Meeting under Agenda Item Maintenance of International Peace and Security, WEB, Military Flair Up Between India and Pakistan See Both Sides Blaming One Another,old.paktribune.com/news/Civil-nuclear-technology-Pakistan-wants-end-to-discrimination-248591.html, 22 April 2022, Paktribune, en, WEB, 14 July 2011, Pakistan wants to join Nuclear Suppliers Group,tribune.com.pk/story/210107/pakistan-wants-to-join-nuclear-suppliers-group, 22 April 2022, The Express Tribune, en, The policy addresses the nation’s energy security matters by aiming to expand the self-sustaining nuclear power infrastructure all over the country by year 2050 with cooperation from China.WEB, NCA okays Nuclear Power Prog 2050, Space Prog 2040,www.geo.tv/latest/26091-nca-okays-nuclear-power-prog-2050-space-prog-2040, 22 April 2022, geo.tv, en, This program is seen as a direct response to the India–United States nuclear deal, as well as to counter the existing energy shortfalls and future requirements of a growing population and national economy. The primary focus of this program is to promote scientific and socio-economic development of the people as a “foremost priority.“This policy measure program was first announced on 14 July 2011 and enacted by the Gilani administration at the National Command Authority by Prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani.WEB, Government of Pakistan, Prime minister Secretariat, Opening Remarks by the Prime Minister at the National Command Authority,docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:kiYaasGdfXAJ:www.pid.gov.pk/Opening%2520Remarks%2520by%252014-7-2011the%2520PM.doc+pakistan+nuclear+power+programme+2050&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiKsbJTOW3vQHtY4X4n0iToUVFrcUHP7VAwRoKeQYP_potrTxJL0lWksAZ0TiqYJKUvVH24o_qIRZNduyBs2JAE3JHbHw_vxcvQW0gWmt5yIAC2hZ-VBmeEqv8qlxbTY8A_Koq5&sig=AHIEtbS4chXpihcGOhDsv2CinRyIOHwnLw, Pakistan Nuclear Command, Government of Pakistan, 23 November 2012, google docs, 14 July 2011, The policy measures to regulate the nuclear power facilities, safe management of waste storage, along with an increase in power plant building to meet the target of producing {{cvt|8800|MW|GW}} electricity in the country.WEB, Syed Yousaf, Raza, Current Picture of Electrical Energy In Pakistan,docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:T4QW3douApsJ:www.iaea.org/INPRO/4th_Dialogue_Forum/DAY_3_01_August-ready/2._-_DG-C3-4-31-07-2012.pdf+pakistan+nuclear+power+program+2050&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjUcYBzrkzBdSSwbflDwBpLkLAkFaFROisP_jK3E3S97aqHY9tMS-It6gaYDd-q4lZP8BEuD6e4C5E91EnlkiSKIw-JbWuYsNwjNNC1f1Nxyw9D0Ib_V424k5ghsCazU80qDKfF&sig=AHIEtbRAsJSVdJ36dVxzvdggw_Xz16RLGg, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Directorate-General for Nuclear Power Generation, 28 November 2012, 31 July 2012,

Economics

{{See also|Circular debt|Economics of nuclear power plants|National debt of Pakistan|Debt-trap diplomacy}}In Pakistan, the Ministry of Energy (MoE) has prioritized the hydropower over the nuclear power, mainly influenced from the budgetary point of view.NEWS, Khan, Rina Saeed, The untapped blessing of hydropower,www.dawn.com/news/1031357, 21 March 2024, DAWN.COM, 23 July 2013, en, Furthermore, the facilities and infrastructure, which operates outside the IAEA safeguards, to support the nuclear power plants have been subjected to criticism at the international venue.However, the issue of building the larger earth-filled dams has always been subject of political controversy between the four provinces of Pakistan where water is scarce and usually are installed in upcountry.NEWS, Durrani, Musa Khan, Solar, nuclear, hydel? Pakistan’s best power solution is...,www.dawn.com/news/1218513, 21 March 2024, DAWN.COM, 9 November 2015, en, NEWS, Muzamil, Hafiz, Pakistan’s energy mix: power and politics,www.dawn.com/news/1210831, 21 March 2024, DAWN.COM, 4 October 2015, en, On both energy sources, Pakistan has spent billions of dollars from its taxpayers funds, and initiated in capital loans from the international monetary banks to build the hydropower and nuclear power infrastructure to address its energy security.The Asian Development Bank, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Nations Development Program, and the loans (also engineering assistance) from the United States subsequently helped Pakistan building its hydroelectric power stations and dams whereas the nuclear power plants were financed from the loans given to Pakistan by Canada (in past) and currently from China.In an absence of the international interaction and cooperation, federal Government of Pakistan has spent large financial capital from its federal budgets in investing on education and building the training resources locally on reactor and nuclear engineering to its general nuclear workforce.

See also

• Nuclear power
• Nuclear power by country
• Pakistan and weapons of mass destruction

References

{{Ibid|date=March 2024}}{{Reflist}}

Further reading

• {{Citation

• Nuclear Power for Pakistan: Reviving the 3Es (Energy, Economy, and Environment), by Abdul Rehman Abbasi and Anwar ul Hasson Syed, in Proc. ICESE-2010.

External links

• World Nuclear Organisation
• Bringing Pakistan In From the Cold

{{Nuclear power in Pakistan}}{{Ministry of Energy (Pakistan)}}{{Nuclear power by country}}{{Nuclear technology}}{{Asia topic|Nuclear energy in|state=expand}}{{Pakistan topics|economy}}