Govt to Spend Rs. 1.12 Trillion in Constructing New Chashma Nuclear Plant

The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) will build the 1,200 MW Chashma Nuclear Power Plant-5 (C-5) at a cost of Rs. 1.12 trillion and is expected to be completed within 81 months. This comes after PAEC petitioned the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to approve a levelized tariff of Rs. 16.73 per unit for the new nuclear plant. The proposed tariff is for 40 years; Rs. 19.82 per unit for the first 12 years and Rs. 9.63 per unit for the remaining 28 years. NEPRA has approved the petition. The project will be financed through a structure of 19 percent equity and 81 percent debt. China will finance the debt side of the project at a 3 percent interest rate. The repayment period for the loan is 12 years which also comes with a grace period of eight years. Assumptions for exchange rates include Rs. 280 per US dollar, Rs. 38.50 per Chinese RMB, and RMB 7.27 per US dollar. The construction budget includes Rs. 965.8 billion for EPC costs, Rs. 69.4 billion for non-EPC costs, and Rs.  89.5 billion for interest during construction. PAEC has requested a 14.50 percent annual return on equity, with equity redemption planned over 28 years. The Chashma Nuclear Power Generating Station in Punjab houses four units, each based on a 300 MW pressurized water reactor (PWR) design, with a combined capacity of 1,200 MW.