Karachi Nuclear Power Complex

{{Short description|Nuclear power plant in Karachi, Pakistan}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Use Pakistani English|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox power station | name = Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP) | name_official = {{plainlist| *{{lang|en|Karachi Nuclear Power Complex}} }} | image = | image_caption = | country = Pakistan | location = Paradise Point, Karachi, Sindh | coordinates = {{coord|24|50|55|N|66|46|55|E|type:landmark_region:PK|display=inline,title}} | status = o | construction_began = {{plainlist| *K1: {{start date|df=yes|1966|08|01}} *K2: {{start date|df=yes|2015|08|20}} *K3: {{start date|df=yes|2016|05|31}} }} | commissioned = {{plainlist| *K1: {{start date|df=yes|1971|10|18}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Plant Features -- KANUPP |url=http://www.paec.gov.pk/kanupp/pf.htm |access-date=19 August 2020 |date=28 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328113057/http://www.paec.gov.pk/kanupp/pf.htm |archive-date=28 March 2009 }}</ref> *K2: {{start date|df=yes|2021|03|18}}<ref>{{cite news |title=PM Imran inaugurates K-2 nuclear power plant |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/758966/pm-imran-inaugurates-k-2-nuclear-power-plant/ |access-date=2 February 2022 |work=Daily Times |date=21 May 2021}}</ref> *K3: {{start date|df=yes|2022|03|04}}<ref name="World Nuclear News">{{cite news |title= Karachi 3 begins supplying electricity |url=https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Karachi-3-begins-supplying-electricity |access-date=7 March 2022 |work=World Nuclear News |date=7 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref> }} | decommissioned = K1: {{end date|df=yes|2021|08|01}}<ref name="CNPP IAEA 2022">{{cite web |title=Pakistan 2021 |url=https://cnpp.iaea.org/countryprofiles/Pakistan/Pakistan.htm |website=cnpp.iaea.org |access-date=12 March 2021 |language=en |quote=See: §Section: 2.2.3. Permanent shutdown and decommissioning process |archive-date=14 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614094640/https://cnpp.iaea.org/countryprofiles/Pakistan/Pakistan.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> | cost = K1: US$57.3 million (1966) K2-K3: US$9.5 billion (2013) | owner = Government of Pakistan | operator = Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission {{small|(Reactor management)}} NESPAK {{small|(Site and energy management)}} | np_reactors = {{plainlist| *2 Operational (K2 and K3) *1 Decommissioned (K1) }} | np_reactor_type = K1: PHWR K2-K3: PWR | np_reactor_supplier = GE Canada {{small|(Until 1976)}} Kundian Nuclear Fuel Complex China Nuclear Power Corp. | ps_site_area = | ps_site_elevation = | ps_cooling_towers = | ps_cooling_source = Arabian Sea | ps_feed-in_tariff = K1: 14.2 Bn kWh | ps_revenue = | ps_combined_cycle = | ps_cogeneration = | ps_thermal_capacity = {{plainlist| *K1: 337 MWt {{small|(1971–2021)}} *K2: 3,060 MWt *K3: 3,060 MWt }} | ps_units_operational = {{plainlist| *2 x 1,014 MWe }} | ps_units_manu_model = K1: CANDU K2-K3: Hualong One | ps_units_planned = K4: 1400 MW K5: 1400 MW | ps_units_cancelled = | ps_units_uc = | ps_units_decommissioned = 1 x 90 MWe (K1) | ps_electrical_capacity = 2,028 MWe | ps_electrical_cap_fac = {{plainlist| *K1: 29.5% (Lifetime) *K2: 98.8% (Lifetime, as of 2021) }} | ps_annual_generation = K2: {{cvt|6208.89|GWh|TJ|abbr=on}} (2021) | ps_storage_capacity =  | website = {{URL|http://www.paec.gov.pk/NuclearPower/|Karachi Nuclear Power Plant}} {{URL|1=https://pris.iaea.org/PRIS/CountryStatistics/ReactorDetails.aspx?current=427|2=KANUPP-1 (K-1)}} }}

The '''Karachi Nuclear Power Plant''' (or '''KANUPP''') is a large commercial nuclear power plant located at the Paradise Point in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996">{{cite web |last1=Hussain |first1=S.B. |title=Karachi Nuclear Power Plant -- A Review of Performance, Problems, and Upgrades |url=https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/29/029/29029682.pdf |website=inis.iaea.org |publisher=IAEA publications |access-date=15 August 2020 |location=Karachi, Sind. Pakistan |pages=17 |language=en-us |year=1996 }}</ref>

Officially known as '''Karachi Nuclear Power Complex''',<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996"/> the power generation site is composed of three commercial nuclear power plants.<ref>{{cite web |title=WNO: KANUPP |url=https://www.world-nuclear.org/reactor/default.aspx/KANUPP-1 |website=world-nuclear.org |access-date=13 March 2022}}</ref> The K-1 commenced its criticality operations in 1971 whereas K-2 commenced operations in 2021 with a gross power capacity of 1100 MWt.<ref name="PRIS – Reactor Details, k2">{{cite web |title=PRIS – Reactor Details |url=https://pris.iaea.org/PRIS/CountryStatistics/ReactorDetails.aspx?current=1068 |website=pris.iaea.org |access-date=13 March 2022}}</ref> The K-3, with a design similar to K-2, is due for official commissioning and commenced its criticality operations on 21 February 2022.<ref name="PRIS – Reactor Details, k2"/>

The first nuclear power plant, which was later known as ''K-1'', was commissioned with support from Canada whereas ''K-2'' and ''K-3'' have been supported by loans, financing, and investment provided by China and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).<ref name="Power Technology, 2016">{{cite web |title=Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP) Expansion, Pakistan |url=https://www.power-technology.com/projects/karachi-nuclear-power-plant-expansion/ |website=Power Technology {{!}} Energy News and Market Analysis |publisher=Power Technology |access-date=15 August 2020 }}</ref> After a lengthy and complicated negotiations with Canada, the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant was constructed by Canadian firms in 1965 and it went critical in August 1971 with a smaller CANDU-type reactor– it provided energy and generated electricity to whole city of Karachi.<ref name="Power Technology, 2016" /> The site is protected and covered under the IAEA monitoring, which also provided funding for the site's expansion.<ref name="Power Technology, 2016" />

The nuclear power plant is the first commercial nuclear plant in the Muslim world.<ref name="Pakistan Horizon, Yusuf, 1981">{{cite journal |last1=Yusuf |first1=S. Irfan Ali |title=Nuclear Energy in the Muslim World |journal=Pakistan Horizon |year=1981 |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=59–73 |publisher=Pakistan Institute of International Affairs |location=Islamabad |jstor=41393645 |language=en-uk |id=41393645}}</ref>

==History== {{Main|Pakistan-Canada relations|CANDU reactor}} In 1960, Abdus Salam, then-science adviser to Ayub administration, provided a strong advocacy for the industrial usage of the nuclear power in his country at the UN General Assembly, paving away a path for the establishment of the nuclear power plant.{{rp|32}}<ref name="Professor Riazuddin, emeritus scientist at the National Center for Nuclear Physics, and a professor of theoretical physics at the Institute of Physics of the Quaid-i-Azam University.">{{Cite journal | author =Riazuddin | author-link =Riazuddin (physicist) | title =Contribution of Professor Abdus Salam as Technical Member of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) | journal =The Nucleus | volume =42 | issue =1–2 | pages =31–34 | publisher =Professor Riazuddin, emeritus scientist at the National Center for Nuclear Physics, and a professor of theoretical physics at the Institute of Physics of the Quaid-i-Azam University. | location =Islamabad | year =2005 | url =http://www.thenucleuspak.org.pk/nucleus/pdf%20Special%20Issue%20Nucleus%2042%281-4%29/Contributions%20of%20Professor%20Abdus%20Salam%20%28ms603%29.pdf | issn =0029-5698 | access-date =28 March 2014 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140627133716/http://www.thenucleuspak.org.pk/nucleus/pdf%20Special%20Issue%20Nucleus%2042%281-4%29/Contributions%20of%20Professor%20Abdus%20Salam%20%28ms603%29.pdf | archive-date =27 June 2014 }}</ref> Despite the strong opposition from the officials in the Ayub administration, it was the personal efforts of Abdus Salam who had the funding and financing of the nuclear power plant approved from President Ayub Khan.{{rp|32–33}}<ref name="Professor Riazuddin, emeritus scientist at the National Center for Nuclear Physics, and a professor of theoretical physics at the Institute of Physics of the Quaid-i-Azam University."/> In 1963, the Government of Pakistan commissioned the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) to conduct the survey for the nuclear power plant which selected the Paradise Point and Hawke's Bay as the ideal locations— the GSP selected Paradise Point for the location.{{rp|79}}<ref name="Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan, 1970">{{cite book |last1=others |first1=Embassy officials |title=Pakistan Affairs |year=1970 |publisher=Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan. |pages=200 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bVEdAQAAMAAJ&q=Hawkes%20Bay |access-date=15 August 2020 |language=en |format=googlebooks |chapter={{small|(§ Atomic Energy in Pakistan)}}}}</ref> Negotiations and talks took place with Canada over the supply of the nuclear power plant in Karachi and the contract was signed with General Electric Canada as the designer and employed the Montreal Engineering Company as its civil engineering firm in 1965.{{rp|141–142}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996" />

The nuclear power plant was jointly designed by engineers from the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and Canada's General Electric to differentiate it from India's nuclear research reactors, such as CIRUS and Dhruva, which also use CANDU technology.<ref name="Defense Journal, Shabbir, 2004">{{cite web |last1=Shabbir |first1=Usman |title=Remembering Unsung Heroes: Munir Ahmad Khan |url=http://www.defencejournal.com/2004-5/print/p-cvs.asp |work=Defense Journal |access-date=15 August 2020 |language=en-us |date=5 July 2004 |archive-date=18 January 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050118092337/http://www.defencejournal.com/2004-5/print/p-cvs.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> The decision-making factor that was taken under consideration to sell the CANDU technology to Pakistan by Canada was seen as maintaining a balance of power between India and Pakistan.{{rp|80}}<ref name="Dundurn, Pigott, 2007">{{cite book |last1=Pigott |first1=Peter |title=Canada in Afghanistan: The War So Far |year=2007 |publisher=Dundurn |location=Toronto, Ont. |isbn=978-1-4597-1239-3 |pages=227 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MeF98DgLWuQC&dq=karachi+nuclear+power+plant+Canada&pg=PA80 |access-date=15 August 2020 |language=en |format=googlebooks}}</ref> In 1966, the civil engineering and construction started by the Montreal Engineering Co. which finished its construction in 1971.{{rp|143}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996" /> The nuclear power plant attained criticality on 1 August 1971, and commenced on producing full power generation on 2 October 1972.{{rp|141}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996" />

On 28 November 1972, President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto inaugurated the Karachi Nuclear Plant when it was connected with the grid system of K-Electric, an investor-owned energy supply utility based in Karachi.<ref name="PAEC media files, 1972">{{Cite video | people =Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto with Abdus Salam and Munir Ahmad Khan | title =Pakistan – PAEC Chairman & Z.A Bhutto inauguration of KANUPP nuclear plant | url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VCtXSQuFDg | medium =TV-Medium | publisher =Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and Pakistan Military Consortium (PMC). | location =Karachi, Sindh Province, Pakistan | year =1971 }}</ref>

Initially, Canada, through its contractor GE Canada, supplied the deuterium oxide moderator and the natural uranium but it wanted to eject from supporting the operations of the nuclear power plant after 1974 when India exploded the nuclear bomb whose fissile material was produced in CIRUS reactor initially supplied by Canada.{{rp|27}}<ref>P.L. Bhola, Pakistan's Nuclear Policy (New Delhi: Sterling Publishers Private Limited, 1993), p. 27.</ref><ref name="NTI, KANUPP overview">{{cite web |title=KANUPP {{!}} Facilities {{!}} NTI |url=https://www.nti.org/learn/facilities/111/ |website=nti.org |access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref> In 1975, the GE Canada begin to charge Pakistan $27/lb for deuterium oxide which was expensive for the country's taxpayers to afford.<ref name="Defense Journal, Shabbir, 2004"/>

With Pakistan's refusal of becoming the party of the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the GE Canada halted to sell of imported spare parts, natural uranium, heavy water, and technical support for the nuclear power plant, raising fears of Karachi going under a blackout phase in 1976.{{rp|141}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996" /> With Canadian technicians departing the country, the city was exposed to open radioactive materials while estimating that the nuclear power plant would shut down in six months.<ref name="Defense Journal, Shabbir, 2004"/> Despite Canadian scepticism, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission was able to work on producing deuterium oxide at lesser price, and set up the machine shop to manufacture its machinery and tools near nuclear power plant with the assistance from Karachi University.<ref name="Defense Journal, Shabbir, 2004"/> [[File:CANDU fuel bundles.jpg|thumb|left|{{small|The Beryllium (Be4) fuel bundles manufactured in Pakistan since 1976 after Canada halted the imports.}}<ref name="NTI, KANUPP overview" />]] The Canadian ejection from the project turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it allowed the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission establish its own machine shops, welding facilities, and training centers with the help from Karachi University that proved to be pivotal on country's production of able machinists and qualified welders as well as nuclear fuel cycle technology.{{rp|149}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996" /> Since 1979, the deuterium oxide and heavy water is locally and indigenously produced by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission at the Multan Heavy Water Production Facility that made it possible and kept the plant running its grid operations.<ref name="NTI, KANUPP overview"/>

Many of spare parts and machine components were locally designed that kept the nuclear power plant running its grid operation in safe manner– the valuable experience gained was shared to Chinese officials in designing the reactor safety protocols and eventually helped run the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant in 1993.<ref name="Defense Journal, Shabbir, 2004"/>

After intense negotiations and with the IAEA's cooperation in May 1990, Canadian policy towards Karachi Nuclear Power Plant was revised allowing it to provide assistance for Safe Operation of KANUPP (SOK) through the IAEA and only for the IAEA suggested remedial actions.<ref name="Defense Journal, Shabbir, 2004"/>

In 2015 and 2016, China showed great interest in expanding the energy capacity of Karachi Nuclear Power Plant and signed an agreement to supply two Hualong One nuclear power plants with the start of commercial operations scheduled for 2021 and 2022 respectively.<ref name="Power Technology, 2016" /><ref name=wnn-20200907/> Reactor units will have a design life of 60 years and account for approximately 10% of the country's total generation capacity.<ref name="Power Technology, 2016" /> As of 31 December 2017, the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant has generated 14.2 billion kWhr of electricity and been fueled by thousands of Pakistan-made fuel bundles without any failure.<ref>{{cite web |title=PRIS – Reactor Details |url=https://pris.iaea.org/PRIS/CountryStatistics/ReactorDetails.aspx?current=427 |website=pris.iaea.org |access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref>

==Reactor technology== {{See also|Nuclear reactor technology}}

===KANUPP=== {{Main|Nuclear decommissioning}} thumb|right|{{small|Schema of CANDU-fuel cycle. The fuel cycle of KANUPP was fed by the natural uranium (yellow arrow), though it can accept a variety of fuel type.}} The first reactor unit at the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant was a single CANDU-type pressurized heavy-water reactor (PHWR) with a total gross energy generation capacity of 137 Megawatts (MW).{{rp|141}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996" /> It was originally known as '''"KANUPP'''"—later classified as '''K1''' in 2010s—that used the water-cooled deuterium oxide (D2O or heavy water) moderator with natural uranium serving it as its fuel.{{rp|141}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996" /> The Multan Heavy Water Production Facility provided the necessary heavy water to Karachi Nuclear Power Plant since 1978{{rp|141}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996" />

The KANUPP was noted as one of the oldest reactor that used the CANDU-type PHWR system to generate energy from 1971 to 2021.{{rp|141}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996" /><ref name="KANUPP, Plant description">{{cite web |title=Plant Description -- KANUPP |url=http://www.paec.gov.pk/kanupp/pd.htm |access-date=19 August 2020 |date=5 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205020347/http://www.paec.gov.pk/kanupp/pd.htm |archive-date=5 December 2008 }}</ref> The fuel was natural uranium in the form of sintered uranium dioxide pellets sheathed in thin zirconium alloy tubes to form solid fuel elements about 19.1 inches (48.53 cm) long by 0.6 inches (1.4 cm) diameter.<ref name="KANUPP, Plant description"/>

In 2010, a multi-effect distillation (MED) process source was connected to Karachi Nuclear Power Plant that can produce 1600 m3/d of potable water.{{rp|27}}<ref name="Elsevier, Ramirez, Valle & Alonso, 2017">{{cite book |last1=Alonso |first1=Gustavo |last2=Valle |first2=Edmundo del |last3=Ramirez |first3=Jose Ramon |title=Desalination in Nuclear Power Plants |year=2017 |publisher=Elsevier |location=Oxford |isbn=978-0-12-820021-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xp_bDwAAQBAJ&dq=karachi+nuclear+power+plant+modified+design&pg=PA27 |access-date=15 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In addition, a reverse osmosis plant is also coupled with the nuclear power plant that is producing 454 m3/d of water for reactor usage.{{rp|27}}<ref name="Elsevier, Ramirez, Valle & Alonso, 2017"/>

Between 1970 and the 1990s, the KANUPP had generated energy of about ~7.9 billion units of electricity with an average lifetime availability factor of 55.9%.{{rp|143}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996" /> The Canadian technicians designed the life of the plant operations for ~30 years which it did complete its lifetime in 2002.<ref>"KANUPP Gets 10 Year Extension," Nuclear Engineering International, 16 December 1999.</ref> The Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA), the regulator of the nuclear power plant, extended its lifetime operation to 2012 (later to 2021), and kept 55.7% capacity factor with total energy generation of 137 MW.<ref name="Dawn Newspaper, 2011">{{cite news |last1=InpaperMagazine |first1=From |title=Earthly matters: Shutting down KANUPP |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/670042/earthly-matters-shutting-down-kanupp |access-date=15 August 2020 |work=Dawn|location=Pakistan |date=30 October 2011 |language=en}}</ref>

On 1 August 2021, the Canadian unit, K1, was ceased from its criticality operations and was phased out when it was decommissioning from the national grid system, marking the end of its 50-years of long operational services to the nation.<ref name="CNPP IAEA 2022" /><ref name="tribune.com.pk" /><ref name="World nuclear 2021">{{cite news |title=Karachi 3 begins supplying electricity : New Nuclear – World Nuclear News |url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Karachi-3-begins-supplying-electricity |work=world-nuclear-news.org}}</ref>

From 1973 to 1979, K1 had an operation factor of 70.1% {{rp|145}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996"/> and between 2006 and 2021, it was at 55.7%.<ref>"Pakistan's Karachi nuclear power plant 'back in operation,'" BBC Worldwide Monitoring – South Asia, 4 December 2006; Pakistan</ref>

===K2=== thumb|left|{{small|Schema of Hualong On being installed in KANUPP-2.<ref name="tribune.com.pk"/>}} In 2015, Chinese energy contractors became interested in Karachi Nuclear Power Plant – eventually the Pakistani administration and Chinese government signed an energy agreement to construct two Hualong One reactor units at the US$ Bn with each reactor producing 1,100 MW.<ref name="tribune.com.pk">{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/559885/govt-to-kick-off-work-on-1100mw-nuclear-power-plant/|title=Govt to kick off work on 1,100MW nuclear power plant – The Express Tribune|date=7 June 2013|access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="globalpost.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/130613/pakistan-start-work-chinese-aided-nuclear-power-plant|website=globalpost.com|title=Pakistan to start work on Chinese-aided nuclear power plant|access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsweekpakistan.com/the-nuclear-shadow-over-karachi/|title=The Nuclear Shadow over Karachi|date=17 March 2014|access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref>

The '''K-2''' is a pressurized water reactor (PWR) supplied by the China National Nuclear Corporation, and is jointly designed by the engineers of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.<ref name="Defense Journal, Shabbir, 2004" /> On 26 November 2013, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ceremonially broke ground on an energy project at the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant for the construction of two reactor units, one consisting the Hualong One and the other is ACPR-1000— both are pressurized water reactor.<ref name="worldpoliticsreview.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/27/world/asia/pakistan-breaks-ground-on-nuclear-power-plant-project-with-china.html|title=Pakistan Breaks Ground on Nuclear Plant Project With China|date=27 November 2013|work=The New York Times|access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref> Construction of the KANUPP-2 begins on 20 August 2015 and the KANUPP-3's construction commenced on 31 May 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pakistan 2019 |url=https://cnpp.iaea.org/countryprofiles/Pakistan/Pakistan.htm |website=cnpp.iaea.org |access-date=15 August 2022 |archive-date=14 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614094640/https://cnpp.iaea.org/countryprofiles/Pakistan/Pakistan.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both units are near completion and are expected to attain full energy capacity in 2021 and 2022 respectively.<ref name=wnn-20200907>{{cite news |url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Hot-tests-completed-at-Pakistani-Hualong-One |title=Hot tests completed at Pakistani Hualong One |publisher=World Nuclear News |date=7 September 2020 |access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref>

According to Dr. Ansar Pervaiz, then Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, said that Chinese banks have provided $6.5 Bn for this project as loans and the cold testing of the reactor system at the KANUPP-2 was commenced on 9 December 2019.<ref name="worldpoliticsreview.com"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Cold testing completed at Pakistan's Karachi 2 – Nuclear Engineering International |url=https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newscold-testing-completed-at-pakistans-karachi-2-7551887 |website=neimagazine.com |access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="thenews">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/article-131648-China-commits-$6.5-billion-for-nuclear-power-project-in-Karachi|website=The News International|title=Aussies need a kick up the backside: Warne {{pipe}} China commits $6.5 billion for nuclear power project in Karachi |access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldcrunch.com/culture-society/local-fallout-from-pakistan-039-s-nuclear-energy-bet/nuclear-power-electricity-security-fishing-fukushima-activism-nuclear-disaster/c3s15373/#.UzMawYWa_3l|title=Local Fallout From Pakistan|website=Worldcrunch.com|access-date=26 October 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113224/http://www.worldcrunch.com/culture-society/local-fallout-from-pakistan-039-s-nuclear-energy-bet/nuclear-power-electricity-security-fishing-fukushima-activism-nuclear-disaster/c3s15373/#.UzMawYWa_3l|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.de/nuclear-reactors-worry-pakistans-fishers/av-17510168|title=Nuclear reactors worry Pakistan's fishers – All media content – DW.COM – 20.03.2014|access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geo.tv/article-194757-PM-Sharif-in-Karachi-inaugurates-KANUPP-2-power-project|title=PM Sharif in Karachi, inaugurates KANUPP-2 power project|access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref> KANUPP-2 was synchronised with the electricity grid on 18 March 2021.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newspakistans-karachi-2-connected-to-the-grid-8616764 |title=Pakistan's Karachi-2 connected to the grid |publisher=Nuclear Engineering International |access-date=22 March 2021}}</ref> The China Zhongyuan Engineering Corporation (CZEC) is currently serving its civil engineering consultant for both reactors.<ref name=wnn-20171011>{{cite news |url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-Pressure-vessel-in-place-at-Karachi-2-1110177.html |title=Pressure vessel in place at Karachi 2 |publisher=World Nuclear News |date=11 October 2017 |access-date=21 November 2017}}</ref>

On 2 December 2020, the loading of the nuclear fuel started with the clearance from the Nuclear Regulatory Authority.<ref name="K-2 nuclear power plant connected to grid">{{cite news |last1=Reporter |first1=The Newspaper's Staff |title=K-2 nuclear power plant connected to grid |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1613286 |access-date=9 April 2021 |work=Dawn|location=Pakistan |date=19 March 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The criticality operation was successfully commenced on 3 March 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reporter |first1=The Newspaper's Staff |title=K-2 achieves criticality |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1610351/k-2-achieves-criticality |access-date=9 April 2021 |work=Dawn|location=Pakistan |date=3 March 2021 |language=en}}</ref> On 20 March 2021, the K2 was synchronized with the nation's electricity grid system, with PAEC terming the operation as "Pakistan Day gift" to the nation.<ref name="K-2 nuclear power plant connected to grid"/><ref>{{cite news |author=World Nuclear News|title=Pakistan: Grid Connection For Unit 2 of Karachi Nuclear Power Plant |url=https://www.eurasiareview.com/20032021-pakistan-grid-connection-for-unit-2-of-karachi-nuclear-power-plant/ |access-date=9 April 2021 |work=Eurasia Review |date=19 March 2021}}</ref>

On 28 May 2021, the nuclear power plant was operationalized with nation's energy system and was inaugurated with Prime Minister Imran Khan.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Abid |first1=Amber Afreen |title=Commercial Operationalization of KANUPP-II: Pakistan's Peaceful Application of Nuclear Technology – OpEd |url=https://www.eurasiareview.com/28052021-commercial-operationalization-of-kanupp-ii-pakistans-peaceful-application-of-nuclear-technology-oped/ |access-date=2 February 2022 |work=Eurasia Review |date=28 May 2021}}</ref>

===K3=== The '''K3''' is also installed with an Hualong One (HPR1000) nuclear reactor supplied by the China National Nuclear Corporation whose construction was commenced on 31 May 2016, being constructed alongside KANUPP-2<ref name="The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency">{{cite web |title=Pakistan / Installation of Reactor Internals Completed at Kanupp-3 |url=https://www.nucnet.org/news/installation-of-reactor-internals-completed-at-kanupp-3-4-3-2020 |website=The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency |date=13 December 2019 |access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref> and the first steam engine was installed on 28 August 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=China installs first steam generator at unit 3 of Pakistan's Kanupp NPP – Nuclear Engineering International |url=https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newschina-installs-first-steam-generator-at-unit-3-of-pakistans-kanupp-npp-6723377 |website=neimagazine.com |date=28 August 2018 |access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref>

On 1 January 2022, the fuel loading started,<ref>{{cite news |title=Fuel loading of KANUPP's 3rd unit starts |url=https://nation.com.pk/01-Jan-2022/fuel-loading-of-kanupp-s-3rd-unit-starts |access-date=2 February 2022 |work=The Nation |date=1 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref> and the nuclear power reactor was connected to the national grid system on 4 March 2022.<ref name="World Nuclear News">{{cite news |title= Karachi 3 begins supplying electricity |url=https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Karachi-3-begins-supplying-electricity |access-date=7 March 2022 |work=World Nuclear News |date=7 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

===K4 and K5 ===

Officials with the PAEC have said they want to add another two reactors at Karachi, possibly Hualong One units, each with 1,400 MW of generation capacity.<ref>{{cite web | title=Pakistan Inaugurates Third Reactor at Karachi Nuclear Plant | date=3 February 2023 | url=https://www.powermag.com/pakistan-inaugurates-third-reactor-at-karachi-nuclear-plant/ }}</ref> In 2023, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission submitted proposed a new design to the Ministry of Energy for establishing the nuclear power plant, K4, with a capacity of 1,400MW in Karachi Nuclear Power Complex.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1734533 | title=Expansion in nuclear power generation hits snags | date=31 January 2023 }}</ref>

==Energy management== ===Electricity grid connections===

The National Engineering Services (NES) provides consultancy on energy management of the nuclear power plant and manages the electricity power transmission operations by replacing the aging transformers, three-phase electric powerlines, circuit breakers, and protective relay of the 132 kV double circuit transmission line that links the nuclear power plant to the K-Electric.<ref name="News International, staff reporter, 2009">{{cite news |last1=staff reporter |first1=news reporters |title=NESPAK provides services for power projects |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/186178 |access-date=16 August 2020 |work=The News International |date=14 July 2009 |location=Karachi, Sind. Pakistan |language=en-us }}</ref> The NES often works closely with the Institute of Power Engineering of the Karachi University to devise discriminative protection scheme and its integration into the nuclear power plants grid system.<ref name="News International, staff reporter, 2009"/> In 2010, the NES and Institute of Power Engineering engaged in replacing the electromechanical power relays with the SF6 circuit breakers and modern numerical line protection devices.<ref name="News International, staff reporter, 2009"/>

===Energy capacity and corporate management===

The Karachi Nuclear Power Plant was designed to produce gross energy at 137 MWe with the corresponding net output is 125 MWe.<ref name="News International, staff reporter, 2009"/> From 1972 to 1979, the nuclear power plant operated with relatively high availability capacity factors up to 70% – it provided the electricity and energy to the whole city of Karachi.{{rp|143}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996" /> Between 1972 and 1992, the nuclear power plant generated the energy about 7.9 billion units of electricity with an average lifetime availability capacity factor of 55.9%.{{rp|141}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996" /> In 1994, the nuclear power plant was exceptionally operated at 85.81% of capacity factor– the highest since its establishment.{{rp|141}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996" /> In 2002–04, the nuclear power plant was shut down due to maintenance issues, and is now kept at 55.55% capacity factor, nominally producing 90 MW of electric power.<ref name="News International, staff reporter, 2007">{{cite news |title=Kanupp's supply to KESC restored |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/77002-kanupp%E2%80%99s-supply-to-kesc-restored |access-date=16 August 2020 |work=The News International |language=en}}</ref>

With the completion of the two more units, the nuclear power plant is expected to produce over 2000 MW of electricity at an 80–90% capacity.<ref name="Power Technology, 2016" /><ref name="worldpoliticsreview.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/13349/with-reactor-deal-china-and-pakistan-seek-to-reshape-global-nuclear-governance|title=With Reactor Deal, China and Pakistan Seek to Reshape Global Nuclear Governance|date=5 November 2013 |access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref>

The Karachi Nuclear Power Plant is owned by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission which runs the operations through regulations provided by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) that is responsible for licensing, inspection and ensuring the safety procedures taking place while running the power plant.<ref name="Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority">{{cite web |title=KANUPP-I |url=https://www.pnra.org/kannup.html |website=pnra.org |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=21 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421011906/https://www.pnra.org/kannup.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The National Engineering Services (NES) of Pakistan, the contractor, manages nuclear power plant on site on behalf of Nuclear Regulatory Authority and oversees the overall electricity distribution of nuclear power plant including the employment of transformers and grid connections over the city.<ref name="News International, staff reporter, 2009" /> The K-Electric supports the NES operations to manage the plant and relays on energy provided by the nuclear power plant to feed through its circuits.<ref name="News International, staff reporter, 2007" /> The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, on the other hand, has the responsibility of running the overall operations of the nuclear power plant including computerized machinery, plant stimulators, and manufacturing of fuel bundles, producing fuel cycle, manufacturing tools, and employing of computers.<ref>{{cite web |title=NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN PLANNING PHASE (K-2) |url=https://www.pnra.org/miscNPPs.html#K-II |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=21 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421011902/https://www.pnra.org/miscNPPs.html#K-II |url-status=dead }}</ref>

'''Energy site contractors''' *Montreal Engineering Co. (1965–71) *GE Canada (1971–76) *K-Electric *China NNC *NES Pakistan

==Reception== === Power outages, leakages, and engineering === {{See also|List of nuclear power accidents by country|Anti-nuclear movement|Nuclear power debate|Loadshedding}}

The Karachi Nuclear Power Plant received wide range of media publicity and fame when it was inaugurated by President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on 2 November 1972, accompanied by nation's top scientists and high ranking civic officials.<ref name="PAEC media files, 1972" /> Since 2000, the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant has been subjected to a political debate and controversy between nation's anti-nuclear power and pro-nuclear power activists due to its repeated shutdown to generate energy to provide to the city.<ref name="Dawn Newspaper, 2011" /> In 2000, Zia Mian, a physicist at the SDPI based in Islamabad, compared the performance and efficiency of nuclear power plant as "six worst performing reactors in the world."{{rp|5–6}}<ref name="Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Mian, 2000">{{cite web |last1=Mia |first1=Zia |title=Some issues associated with Pakistan's Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP) |url=https://sgs.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/2020-01/mian-2000b.pdf |website=sgs.princeton.edu |publisher=Zia Mian, researcher at Sustainable Development Policy Institute |access-date=16 August 2020 |location=Islamabad |pages=12 |language=en-us |year=2000 }}</ref>

In the wake of nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan in 2011, the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) of Pakistan did a safety inspection of the nuclear power plant.<ref name="Dawn Newspaper, 2011" /> Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy who visited the nuclear power plant as part of the inspection viewed negatively of the performance of the plant and was very critical of IAEA's monitoring of the plant.<ref name="Dawn Newspaper, 2011" /> Without the Canadian material support, the nuclear power plant has been shut down multiple times in the years of 1979, 1982, 1993, and in 2002.{{rp|144–146}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996" /> The power outages at the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant has been reported to high as compared to the other Canadian CANDU reactor, mainly attributed to equipment and regulation failure.{{rp|147}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996" /> In 2002, the Nuclear Regulatory Authority was established to set up the regulation codes, safety regulations, and statues based on the experience learned in running the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant.<ref name="Defense Journal, Shabbir, 2004" />

The uranium hexafluoride (UF 6) leakages in nuclear steam cylinder has been commonly reported multiple times but it was addressed when Bashiruddin Mahmood claimed to invent a scientific instrument to prevent further leakages.<ref>See: SBM Detection Instrument</ref> On 18 October 2011, a seven-hour emergency was imposed by the NES (manager of the plant) after detecting a heavy water leak.<ref name=reutersLeak /> The leak was brought under control and the emergency was lifted.<ref name=reutersLeak>{{cite news|last=Aziz|first=Faisal|title=Leak at Pakistani nuclear plant, but no damage|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-nuclear-idUSTRE79J13720111020|access-date=22 October 2011|work=Reuters|date=20 October 2011}}</ref>

Despite incidents of power outages, the senior physicists and the management of the nuclear power plant has dismissed the criticism of the operations of the nuclear power plant who maintained that the power plant had to be run without Canada's technical and material support, and facilities which were nonexistence in the country to support the operations of the plant.<ref name="Defense Journal, Shabbir, 2004" /> The welding facility, tool manufacturing, and machine shops near the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant were eventually established by Parvez Butt (a mechanical engineer) to support the nuclear power operations of the plant in successive years— Butt was honored with nation's highest honor for this contribution.<ref name="Defense Journal, Shabbir, 2004" />

According to report submitted to IAEA by S.B. Hussain, a senior physicist who worked at Karachi Nuclear Power Plant, maintained that operating nuclear power plant in the environment of complete Canadian absence was a difficult task, but proved a blessing in disguise, because it provided the Atomic Energy Commission an opportunity to engage in self-reliance in producing nuclear fuel cycle and self-manufacturing programs that was pivotal experience in safely running and managing the much larger Chashma Nuclear Power Plant in Punjab.{{rp|149}}<ref name="IAEA publications, Hussain, 1996" /><ref name="Defense Journal, Shabbir, 2004" />

According to 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fuel loading under way at first Pakistani Hualong One : New Nuclear – World Nuclear News |url=https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Fuel-loading-under-way-at-first-Pakistani-Hualong |access-date=9 April 2021 |work=world-nuclear-news.org}}</ref>

'''Notable staff''' **Parvez Butt– machinist, chief engineer, director of nuclear power, Chair of PAEC (2001–06) **Bashiruddin Mahmood– principal engineer **Ansar Pervaiz— engineer, general manager of nuclear power plant, Chair of PAEC (2009–13) **Wazed Miah, physicist and chief scientist at nuclear power plant (1972–74) **Hameed Ahmad Khan, physicist and chief scientist at nuclear power plant **Anwar Habib, principal engineer and nuclear safety **Zaheer Baig, health physicist and radiation control

==Education facilities== ===Training opportunities=== {{See also|Power engineering}} Since 1973, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission engaged in joint educational venture with University of Karachi's physics department to sponsor degree programs in health physics and electronics engineering, and extended partnership with the NED University on electrical engineering, specifically the power engineering.<ref name="Dawn Newspaper, staff reporters, 2002">{{cite news |last1=staff reporter |first1=others |title=KARACHI: KINPOE convocation tomorrow |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/46928/karachi-kinpoe-convocation-tomorrow|work=Dawn|location=Pakistan|date=10 July 2002 |language=en}}</ref>

The Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences in Islamabad operates and maintains the Institute of Power Engineering in Karachi that offers training programs and courses in nuclear, electrical, and mechanical engineering at the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant.<ref>{{cite web |title=Karachi Institute of Power Engineering |url=http://www.kinpoe.edu.pk/index.asp |access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref>

==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|Pakistan|Energy|Nuclear technology}}}} * Energy in Pakistan **Nuclear power in Pakistan **Hydroelectric power in Pakistan **Electricity in Pakistan **Rolling blackout *Economy of Karachi **Industry of Pakistan **Industry in Karachi

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090917115447/http://www.paec.gov.pk/kanupp/kanupp-index.htm Karachi Nuclear Power Plant]

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