Key Takeaways
- PAEC Foundation has signed a contract for a 5MW hydropower plant at the outfall of Chashma-5 Nuclear Power Plant.
- The plant is expected to generate 30.66 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually.
- Electricity generation is expected to commence by September 2029.
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) Foundation has signed a contract for the establishment of its fifth hydropower plant, the Foundation Hydel Power Plant Unit-05 (FHPP-05), a five-megawatt project to be constructed at the outfall of the Chashma-5 Nuclear Power Plant.
The project, which will harness the available hydropower potential at the site, is expected to generate approximately 30.66 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually for the national grid.
The contract was signed at PAEC Headquarters between PAEC Foundation and a joint venture comprising China Ocean Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd., Ningbo Water Conservancy and Hydro Power Planning and Design Institute Co. Ltd., and Habib Rafique Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd.
PAEC Foundation, established in 1994 for the welfare of commission employees and their families, will further expand its renewable energy portfolio with this project, adding 5MW of clean electricity to the national grid.
The project is part of PAEC’s broader contribution to Pakistan’s energy sector, which currently generates 3,530MW of clean, sustainable, and low-cost electricity from six nuclear power plants.
Electricity generation is expected to commence by September 2029, complementing PAEC’s strategy to meet future energy needs through renewable sources.
Earlier this month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Pakistan signed a safeguards agreement for the 1,200MW Chashma-5 Nuclear Power Plant to bolster the country’s energy security while ensuring international non-proliferation standards.
In June, the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) restored the affected generating units of the Gomal Zam Hydropower Station after eight years and successfully synchronised it with the national grid, bringing the facility back to its full generation capacity of 17.4MW.
In May, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to formulate a comprehensive strategy to meet future energy needs through renewable sources, including increased electricity generation from hydropower, solar energy, biogas, and other renewable resources.
