Chashma Nuclear Power Plant – The Year-Long Marathon

The Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit-2 reached a significant milestone by remaining in operation for a complete year. With this, it has become only the second Power Plant to reach the landmark, after Chashma Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Unit 4, in the country.

An elated Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) said that the record was achieved a few days ago. It praised the scientists and engineers working at the plants, attributing the full-year production to their hard work. PAEC chairman Muhammad Naeem congratulated the entire team for the year-round production and for maintaining safety checks despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, he talked about the role of National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) in maintaining the national grid that allowed NPP’s to work efficiently. He also talked about the PAEC’s intentions to produce 8000 Megawatts of cheap and clean energy by 2030, in line with the United Nations development goals.

Chashma NPP 2 is one of the best performing power plants in Pakistan, with a capacity utilization of 99%. It was ranked the 11^th best performing nuclear power station in the world in 2017. In 2016, it remained operational for 302 days as well.