PM Shehbaz inaugurates dome placement ceremony at Chashma nuclear plant

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday led the dome-placement ceremony at the Chashma-5 (C-5) Nuclear Power Plant in Mianwali.

PM Shehbaz had inaugurated the 1200 MW Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit 5 in July 2023. Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir was also present at the ceremony, along with Chinese and other senior officials and representatives of relevant organisations.

Addressing the ceremony, the prime minister described the dome placement as a historic occasion at Pakistan’s largest nuclear power plant, which was built in close collaboration with China.

He said that three and a half years after the power plant’s inauguration, its dome had been put in place ahead of schedule, calling it a proud moment for Pakistan. He also praised the engineers, technicians and workers from both Pakistan and China for their contributions.

“China’s dedication and hard work have helped achieve this milestone, and I am confident that, with the same commitment, we will see this project commissioned ahead of time,” he said.

The prime minister said the project would provide clean, reliable and affordable electricity, describing it as a source of power that would not go off.

“Power that does not rise or fall with the price of imported fuel, power that does not depend on whether the sun shines or the wind blows, power that runs through the night for the factory that must not stop, the hospital that must not go dark and the studies by its light,” he said.

He added that this was what energy security meant for Pakistan, its people and its economy.

Calling Pakistan a climate-vulnerable country, he said the country had a responsibility to pursue energy solutions that supported its economic objectives while protecting the environment.

“This project will turn dreams into hope and hope into reality one day soon,” he said, adding that no nation could build a prosperous future unless it first safeguarded its future.

PM Shehbaz also praised CDF Munir for his leadership during Marka-e-Haq, saying the country had witnessed the courage, professionalism and unwavering commitment of its armed forces under his stewardship.

He also appreciated the CDF Munir proactive and steadfast support for joint efforts to revive the economy and advance Pakistan’s socioeconomic development, adding that such resolve could help Pakistan pursue its economic ambitions, attract investment and accelerate development with confidence.

The prime minister thanked China for its support in building the power plant, saying Chashma-5 was the seventh nuclear power unit Beijing had helped construct in Pakistan. He described each unit as a living testament to the friendship between the two countries.

He also thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government and the China National Nuclear Corporation for their continued support, saying Chinese engineers had worked shoulder to shoulder with their Pakistani counterparts as one team.

With Pakistan and China entering the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, he said, Chashma-5 reflected the strength of their partnership by creating economic opportunities and helping build a brighter future for their people.

The prime minister called on the people of Pakistan to harness every resource, technology and citizen’s potential to build the country envisioned by its founder, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

“A Pakistan that is economically dominant, energy independent and environmentally resilient,” he said.

He prayed that Chashma-5 would stand as a lasting symbol of Pakistan-China friendship and their shared determination to build a prosperous, peaceful and stronger Pakistan.

The prime minister, while congratulating the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), China Atomic Energy Authority, contractors, engineers, financial institutions and other stakeholders, also acknowledged the people of Mianwali for hosting the landmark project.

Earlier, the PAEC chairman highlighted nuclear energy’s growing contribution to Pakistan’s electricity mix and national energy security. He said the country’s nuclear power plants were safely and efficiently generating 3,530 megawatts of electricity, helping avoid approximately 15 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

Unit 5 of the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant will have a gross capacity of 1,200 MW(e). The pressurised water reactor is expected to become operational by 2030. Upon completion, the unit will provide a substantial source of low-carbon electricity to Pakistan’s national grid.

Pakistan currently operates six nuclear power plants with a combined installed capacity of 3,530 MW(e).