ISLAMABAD : The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has raised a number of questions including cost and strategic importance of the proposed Chashma-5(C-5) nuclear power plant to be established by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC).
NEPRA is to hold a public hearing on October 23, 2024. Power Minister, Awais Leghari has already testified before the Senate Standing Committee on Power that the government is reconsidering viability of few projects like, Diamer Bhasha hydropower project and C- 5 in the light of new IGECP.
NEPRA has framed about a dozen questions for grant of concurrence to discussed during the public hearing which are as follows ;(i) does the C-5 project fulfill the requirements for being strategic project as stipulated in the relevant provisions of National Electricity Policy 2021 and National Electricity Plan 2023-27? ;(ii) if the C-5 project has been declared strategic project, has there been any Least Cost Violation (LCV) evaluated? If so, what is the status of necessary approval of the Federal Government in regards of LCV and mechanism of the same? ;(iii) has PAEC approached the NTDC and provided the relevant information for inclusion in the next iteration of Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP)? ;(iv) whether the NTDC has been consulted for assessment and evaluation of the proposed site/location and power evacuation, concerning the current integrated system planning and system operations constraints and requirements to assure future smooth operations of the project? (v) has PAEC assessed the interconnection and associated costs of the project and communicated the same to NTDC for inclusion in the Transmission System Expansion Plan (TSEP)? ;(vi) PAEC has not submitted the Grid Interconnection Study for the project. In the absence of same, how it can be ensured that it will comply with the connectivity standards in accordance with relevant provisions of the Grid Code? ;(vii) according to submitted PC-1 of the project, Indus River System Authority (IRSA) and Environment Protection Department, Govt. of Punjab have granted No Objection Certificates [NOC(s)] however, the copies of the same have not been provided ;(viii) PC-1 mentions that the project was envisaged under the Medium Term Development Framework (MTDF) 2005-10. What is the legal status of MTDF and has the same ever been shared with NTDC and other relevant entities for planning purpose or otherwise? ;(ix) according to the PC-1, what is the financial impact assessment of the project on power system? ;(x) PC-I mentions that the Estimated levelized electricity generation cost from C-5 project (Rs.13.46/kWh) is lower than the current tariff of operating imported coal-fired (Rs.42.54/kWh) and Thar coal-fired (Rs.25.82/kWh) power plants based on energy charges available in the merit order of June 01, 2023 and capacity charges for the Apr-Jun 2023 quarter. What is the rationale of comparison? ;(xi) what will be the impact of C-5 project on future projected quantum of Renewable Energy (RE) to be inducted in the system as candidate projects and how it will impact the targets of RE Policy 2019? ; and (xii) Zhangzhou 1&2 will be the reference plant for C-5 project which is still under construction. In such circumstances, Will it be prudent to install a nuclear power plant based on a design which has not been put into operation?
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