Roughly two years after construction began, Pakistan's newest reactor at Chashma is taking shape.
On Thursday, crews placed the 180-metric-ton containment dome on unit 4 at the plant in Punjab Province. The News, an English language paper based in Karachi, said the placement was witnessed by Pakistani dignitaries, as well as the ambassador of China, which is providing funding and technology for Pakistan's nuclear power program. Officials also announced their intention to study additional sites for new reactors.
Chashma 4 is a 315 megawatt, net, CNP-300 pressurized water reactor. Chashma 3 shares the same design and saw its containment dome installed in March, according to the World Nuclear Association. The units are expected to enter service in 2016 and 2017, and discussions have taken place with the Chinese for a fifth unit at the plant.
Elsewhere in the country, first nuclear concrete is expected to be poured this year for two ACP-1000 units at the Karachi Coastal Power Station. Additionally, Pakistani media reported last week the country's planning authorities will soon consider purchasing land in Muzaffargarh and Ahmadpur East, also in Punjab, for additional multi-unit plants.
A non-signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Pakistan has historically been restricted in the civilian nuclear technology it can import. But China maintains its nuclear business in Pakistan was grandfathered in before China joined the Nuclear Suppliers Group in 2004.