Chashma-5 Nuclear Plant Marks Key Construction Milestone as Reactor Dome Installed Ahead of Schedule

Pakistan's 1,200MW Chashma-5 (C-5) nuclear power plant has achieved a significant construction milestone with the installation of its reactor dome, completed in under three and a half years since work began and ahead of the planned timeline, according to the Prime Minister's Office.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the dome placement ceremony in Mianwali as chief guest, accompanied by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chinese officials, and senior representatives of the organisations involved in the project. The dome serves as the roof of the reactor building, which houses the reactor and its primary equipment.

The plant is scheduled to begin producing electricity in September 2030, although officials have indicated that commissioning could occur earlier than planned given the pace of construction since the project's groundbreaking in July 2023.

Speaking at the ceremony, the prime minister said C-5 would deliver clean, reliable, and affordable electricity while reducing Pakistan's dependence on imported fuels and exposure to global price fluctuations. Nuclear energy currently accounts for approximately 16.6 percent of the country's electricity generation despite representing only 8.6 percent of installed capacity, with its share rising to 26 percent during the winter months.

C-5 is the seventh nuclear power unit that China has helped Pakistan build. The prime minister expressed gratitude to President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government, and the China National Nuclear Corporation, noting that the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would create new economic opportunities for both nations.

The project recently cleared another regulatory step when Pakistan and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed a safeguards agreement for Chashma-5. Separately, Chashma-1 previously set a Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) record with 427 days of uninterrupted operation.