The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors has unanimously approved the agreement between the agency and Pakistan for the application of safeguards at unit 5 of the Chashma NPP.
“This important development reflects the international community’s continued confidence in Pakistan’s commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and its adherence to global non-proliferation and safeguards obligations,” Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.
The 1,200 MWe pressurised water reactor (PWR) 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, contributing to energy security, climate goals and sustainable economic growth,” the FO said.
First concrete for the unit was poured in December 2024. A ceremonial launch attended by Chinese and Pakistani officials followed in early January 2025. The unit will have a HPR1000 (Hualong One) design, which features both active and passive safety systems and a double-shell containment structure. The project is being built by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and its subsidiary, CNNC China Zhongyuan Engineering Corp, under a cooperation agreement with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). The project is estimated to cost approximately $4.8bn, largely financed through Chinese credit.
Chashma 5 will be Pakistan’s largest nuclear plant. The cooperation agreement for the reactor, was signed with China in 2017. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in July 2023. The Chashma site at Mianwali in Punjab already hosts four operating Chinese-supplied CNP-300 PWRs.
Pakistan currently operates six nuclear power units with a combined installed capacity of 3,530 MWe, achieving an average capacity factor exceeding 90%, according to the FO. “Over the past year, nuclear power accounted for 18.3% of the national electricity mix and 34% of total low-carbon electricity generation,” it added.
In line with the IAEA’s statute, states accept safeguards through the conclusion of such agreements with the agency. Safeguards are implemented in the three states that are not party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty – India, Pakistan and Israel. They are based on item-specific agreements concluded with the Agency.
The development comes after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi during an official visit to Vienna in February. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, during the meeting Shehbaz had reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the Agency’s role in the promotion of responsible use of nuclear technology. Later, an agreement was signed on the designation of the Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Oncology (INMOL) in Lahore as an IAEA collaborating centre.
