The energy industry in Pakistan is in ruins. As a result, there is a severe scarcity of gas supplies throughout the nation, and every
Day, unprecedented-for-winter load shedding of electricity is taking place on a big scale. The cost of gas and electricity, however, is frequently rising. Recent policy announcements by the government are welcome, but they come too late and with too little substance to improve the energy industry. Realizing the need of a strong electricity infrastructure for both economic development and political stability is necessary.
The Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP) 2021–2030 Energy Plan, which highlights the need for promotion of renewable and green energy for power generation on a fast track, has not been implemented properly and successfully. It is unlikely to reach the total goal of capacity growth by 2030 given the poor progress of large hydroelectric projects currently under construction. In this case, Pakistan may decide to implement the work plan suggested by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for reforming the electricity industry in order to create "a dependable, sustainable, resilient, and reformed energy market for 2030". The ADB initially released CAREC Energy Outlook 2030 in November 2019. It presents an action plan under the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) initiative that evaluates the current state and prospects for the region's energy industry.
An ambitious plan for utilizing a significant renewable and clean energy potential is covered by Pakistan's Energy Plan (IGCEP). Surprisingly, the future nuclear power projects have not been listed in the document, despite being required to focus on adding nuclear power generation projects to the planned energy mix. Pakistan will have a total nuclear power generation capacity of 8,800 MW by 2030, with a target share of 25% in the entire power generation mix, according to the Energy Security Plan created in 2005. Six nuclear power stations are currently operational: K-2 and K-3 near Karachi, and C-1, C-2, C-3, and C-4 in Chashma, together known as the Chashma Nuclear Power Generating Stations (CNPGS). With a combined installed capacity of 3,620 MW, these power plants account for around 8.3 percent of the 43,775 MW of the national grid's total energy mix. However, in the year ending June 30, 2023, nuclear energy produced 18,248 GWh, or 18% of the total energy produced from all sources, which was 101,367 GWh.
According to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), nuclear power generation is the best performing energy subsector. Its share of the nation's total grid electricity increased dramatically from 0.6 percent in 2000 to 10.6 percent in 2022. However, due to the Plan's delayed implementation, no additional nuclear power generation capacity is anticipated in the foreseeable future. By 2030, the Energy Security Plan anticipates the building of a total of seven new nuclear power stations, each with a capacity of roughly 1,000 MW.
The 1,100 MW Chashma Nuclear Power Project, also known as C-5, will mimic the design elements of K-2 and K-3 and is the first project in the series. China has in principle agreed to support the project in March 2013, and afterwards a contract for its construction with China was signed in November 2017.
The project's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report was completed in September 2020 as required. By 2024, the project was expected to be finished and operational, with a total nuclear power generation capacity of 4,630 MW. The Taunsa-Panjnad Canal, the second project in the series, is expected to be completed by 2025 and is planned to be built close to Muzaffargarh. It will have a similar capacity.
Unfortunately, despite China purportedly agreeing to contribute financial and technical support for their construction, there has been little visible progress on these projects to far. The final two projects in the series, with a combined capacity of 1,100 MW, were also planned to begin commercial operations in 2026 and 2030, respectively, completing the total goal of 8,800 MW of nuclear power generation capacity by that time. The International Atomic Energy Agency helped determine the four locations for these projects' construction (IAEA). Future nuclear power stations have also been suggested for the sites of Chashma and Muzaffargarh, Qadirabad-Balloki Link Canal (near Qadirabad Headworks), Dera Ghazi Khan (near Taunsa Barrage), Sukkur (Nara Canal), and Guddu in Punjab. In Sindh, (Pat Feeder Canal), and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, (Nowshera, Kabul River).
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