Pakistan conducted a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday for its upcoming largest civil nuclear power plant, which is being constructed by China. This plant will provide 1,200 megawatts of electricity daily to Pakistan’s national grid and is projected to cost a minimum of $3.5 billion.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior Chinese officials attended the televised event in Chashma, a city recognized as the birthplace of China-Pakistan nuclear energy collaboration. Over the past three decades, China has installed four nuclear power units in Chashma, generating approximately 1,300 megawatts in total, with China supplying enriched uranium as fuel.
During the ceremony, Sharif described this cooperation as a friendship gift between the two nations and a model for others to follow. The upcoming plant, known as Chashma-5 or C-5, will utilize China’s domestically developed third-generation pressurized water nuclear technology, the Hualong One or HPR1000, which boasts advanced safety features.
Raja Ali Raza, head of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, mentioned that the nuclear plant project is expected to be completed by 2030. He expressed that C-5 will be Pakistan’s largest generation-III plus nuclear power project, bringing the commission closer to its goal of generating 8,800 megawatts of cheap and clean electricity.
China has previously supplied HPR1000 technology for two nuclear power stations in Karachi, enhancing Pakistan’s nuclear energy production to over 3,500 megawatts per day. Analysts perceive China’s intensified civil nuclear cooperation with Pakistan as an effort to secure more lucrative buyers for its HPR1000 reactors, developed by the state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).
The CNNC chairman, Yu Jianfeng, stated that the HPR1000 technology, a flagship of China’s advanced equipment manufacturing, is being used in the construction of over 17 units in China. He considered the groundbreaking of the C-5 project as a significant milestone for global HPR1000 implementation and a new beginning for China-Pakistan nuclear energy cooperation, which has become an integral part of their strategic partnership.
As part of its Belt and Road Initiative, China has also established 14 mostly coal-fired power plants in Pakistan over the last decade, with a total installed capacity of 8,000 megawatts per day. These projects are part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which includes infrastructure development and has attracted direct Chinese investment and “soft loans” totaling around $62 billion by 2030.
Critics argue that CPEC has contributed to Pakistan’s economic challenges and depletion of foreign exchange reserves, making it difficult for the country to meet its foreign debt obligations. Pakistan owes over $1.3 billion to Chinese power plants, and the amount continues to grow. However, Pakistani and Chinese officials reject these criticisms, asserting that CPEC has stimulated the economy and created numerous job opportunities.
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Sharif expressed gratitude to China for rolling over loans worth several billion dollars, helping Pakistan address declining foreign exchange reserves and avoid default. He highlighted the significant contribution made by China, stating that it came at a time when Pakistan was facing immense difficulties.
To alleviate concerns about defaulting on external payments and worsening economic conditions, Pakistan recently secured a much-needed $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund. The approval of this bailout has brought relief to the embattled Pakistani government.
While China’s defense partnership with Pakistan has deepened over the past decade, both countries maintain that their nuclear cooperation is limited to civilian purposes. Pakistani officials, along with the International Atomic Energy Agency, affirm that the country’s civilian nuclear plants adhere to international safety guidelines.