Chashma-5 Nuclear Plant Hits Major Milestone as Dome Placed at Pakistan’s Largest Reactor

November 11, 2026 Faizan Altaf

Pakistan has reached a major milestone in its biggest nuclear power project. On Tuesday, 10 November 2026, the dome of the Chashma-5 (C-5) Nuclear Power Plant was successfully placed at the Chashma Nuclear Power Generating Station in Mianwali, Punjab — a key construction step that brings the country’s largest nuclear reactor closer to completion.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the ceremony as chief guest, alongside Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces. Senior Pakistani officials, Chinese engineers and representatives of the organisations involved in the project were also present.

The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), which is building the plant with China’s help, described the dome placement as a major achievement for Pakistan’s nuclear energy programme. The prime minister said the milestone had been reached well ahead of schedule — less than three and a half years after the project’s groundbreaking in July 2023 — and expressed confidence that the plant would also be commissioned earlier than planned.

What is Chashma-5?

Chashma-5 is a new nuclear power unit being built at the Chashma Nuclear Power Complex on the banks of the Indus River in Mianwali district, Punjab. Once finished, it will have a gross generation capacity of 1,200 megawatts (MW) — making it the largest single nuclear power unit Pakistan has ever built.

The plant uses China’s Hualong One reactor design, also known as the HPR1000. It is a third-generation pressurised water reactor (PWR) with a 60-year design life. The design includes both active and passive safety systems, a double-shell containment building and a filtered venting system, according to the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA).

The project is being built by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and its subsidiary, CNNC China Zhongyuan Engineering Corp, under a cooperation agreement with the PAEC. The project is estimated to cost around $4.8 billion, largely financed through Chinese credit, according to Nuclear Engineering International.

Chashma-5 is the third nuclear plant in Pakistan to use the Hualong One design. The other two — Karachi units K-2 and K-3 — are already operating and supplying electricity to the national grid. The prime minister noted at the ceremony that Chashma-5 is the seventh nuclear power unit China has helped Pakistan build.

Why the dome placement matters

In nuclear power plant construction, placing the dome is one of the most visible and important milestones. The dome is the huge steel-and-concrete roof that sits on top of the reactor building. It seals the structure that houses the reactor itself and is a key part of the plant’s containment system — the final barrier that keeps radioactive material safely inside in the unlikely event of an accident.

Reaching this stage means the main civil engineering work on the reactor building is largely complete. The next phases involve installing the reactor vessel and other heavy equipment inside the building, followed by years of testing before the plant can start generating electricity.

The timeline so far shows steady progress. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif performed the groundbreaking ceremony for Chashma-5 on 14 July 2023. The PNRA issued the construction licence on 26 December 2024, after reviewing the project’s safety assessments. The first concrete for the unit was poured on 30 December 2024, and a formal construction launch followed in early January 2025.

The dome placement, completed in November 2026, came ahead of schedule. The plant is now expected to begin generating electricity in September 2030.

The project is also under international oversight. In March 2026, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors unanimously approved a safeguards agreement for Chashma-5, and Pakistan and the IAEA signed the agreement in Vienna in September 2026. Safeguards are the IAEA’s system of inspections and monitoring that verify nuclear material is used only for peaceful purposes. The Chashma site is already covered by IAEA monitoring.

What the prime minister said

Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the engineers, technicians and workers from Pakistan and China who, he said, had worked relentlessly to reach the milestone ahead of schedule. He described the project as a sign of clean, emissions-free electricity generation and said it reaffirmed the all-weather friendship between Pakistan and China.

“We must increasingly harness our resources and human capital to build a Pakistan that is economically stronger, energy-secure and environmentally responsible,” the prime minister said, according to Dawn.

He called for building an economically dominant, energy-independent and environmentally resilient Pakistan, and said the country would use its own resources, technology and human capital to secure a prosperous future. “Pakistan will not wait for anyone, but will build its own future through its hard work and untiring efforts,” he said, recalling words he had used at the project’s groundbreaking in 2023.

The prime minister said nuclear power would reduce Pakistan’s reliance on imported fuels and its exposure to swings in international fuel prices, while ensuring a stable electricity supply for industries, hospitals, schools and homes. He thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government and the CNNC for their continued support, and congratulated the PAEC, the China Atomic Energy Authority, contractors, engineers and financial institutions involved in the project.

He also acknowledged the role of the armed forces, under Field Marshal Asim Munir, in ensuring security and stability, and said the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would create new economic opportunities and strengthen ties between the two countries.

PAEC Chairman Dr Raja Ali Raza Anwar said in his opening remarks that nuclear power continues to play an important role in Pakistan’s energy security by providing reliable and low-carbon electricity.

Pakistan’s nuclear power today

Chashma-5 will join four reactors already operating at the Chashma site. Units C-1 and C-2 each generate 325 MW, while C-3 and C-4 each generate 340 MW. Together with the two Karachi units, K-2 and K-3, Pakistan currently operates six nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 3,530 MW.

That may sound small next to Pakistan’s total installed power capacity, but nuclear power punches above its weight. According to figures shared at the ceremony, nuclear plants generate around 16.6% of Pakistan’s electricity despite making up only about 8.6% of installed capacity. That is because nuclear plants run almost continuously, unlike solar and wind plants, which only generate when the sun shines or the wind blows, or gas plants, which are often switched off when fuel is expensive or in short supply.

Nuclear power also helps the climate. The prime minister’s office said Pakistan’s existing nuclear plants help avoid around 15 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year by replacing electricity that would otherwise come from burning oil, gas or coal.

Once Chashma-5 starts operating, Pakistan’s total nuclear capacity will rise to about 4,730 MW. The PAEC has said it aims to raise the country’s nuclear power capacity to 8,000 MW in the longer term, as part of a plan to produce more cheap and clean electricity at home.

Why this matters for Pakistan’s energy future

Pakistan’s electricity system faces a familiar set of problems: expensive imported fuel, power cuts, and bills that many households and businesses struggle to pay. The country imports large amounts of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to run its power plants, which means electricity prices rise whenever global fuel prices rise or the rupee weakens.

Nuclear power addresses part of that problem. Once a nuclear plant is built, its fuel — uranium — is relatively cheap, and a single load of fuel lasts for months. The plant can then generate steady, round-the-clock electricity for decades. That is why governments around the world, including Pakistan’s, see nuclear energy as a foundation for energy security.

There is a climate angle too. Pakistan contributes less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet it is among the countries hit hardest by climate change — from melting glaciers and floods to extreme heat. This very week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is in Antalya, Turkiye, for the COP31 climate summit, where he is pressing the case for climate finance for vulnerable countries. Expanding clean energy at home, including nuclear, solar and hydropower, is part of the same story: cutting emissions while keeping the lights on.

Chashma-5 will not solve Pakistan’s energy problems on its own. At 1,200 MW, it is a useful addition, but Pakistan’s total installed power capacity is many times larger, and the system still needs investment in transmission lines, distribution and bill collection. What the dome placement does show is that a large, complex energy project — built with a foreign partner, under international safeguards, and ahead of schedule — can move forward in Pakistan.

What happens next

With the dome in place, work will now focus on installing equipment inside the reactor building, including the reactor pressure vessel and steam generators, followed by piping, wiring and testing. The plant is expected to start generating electricity in September 2030, although the prime minister has said he expects it to be commissioned earlier than planned.

For the people of Mianwali and the surrounding region, the project also means jobs. At the start of construction, officials said the project would create around 40,000 jobs directly and indirectly at the peak of construction.

The Chashma-5 milestone comes at a busy moment for Pakistan’s energy and climate agenda, with the COP31 summit under way and the government pushing for more domestic, low-carbon power. If the plant stays on its current track, the dome placed this week will one day sit above the largest nuclear reactor Pakistan has ever operated — a visible symbol of the country’s bet on nuclear energy for a more secure and cleaner power supply.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Chashma-5 nuclear power plant?

Chashma-5 is being built at the Chashma Nuclear Power Generating Station in Mianwali district, Punjab, on the banks of the Indus River. The site already hosts four operating nuclear reactors.

How much electricity will Chashma-5 produce?

The plant will have a gross generation capacity of 1,200 megawatts (MW), making it Pakistan’s largest single nuclear power unit. It is expected to start generating electricity in September 2030.

What type of reactor is Chashma-5?

Chashma-5 uses China’s Hualong One (HPR1000) design, a third-generation pressurised water reactor with active and passive safety systems, a double-shell containment structure and a 60-year design life.

Who is building Chashma-5?

The plant is being built by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) together with the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and its subsidiary, CNNC China Zhongyuan Engineering Corp. It is the seventh nuclear power unit China has helped Pakistan construct.

Is Chashma-5 under international safeguards?

Yes. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors approved a safeguards agreement for Chashma-5 in March 2026, and Pakistan and the IAEA signed the agreement in September 2026.

How much nuclear power does Pakistan already have?

Pakistan operates six nuclear reactors — four at Chashma and two at Karachi — with a combined capacity of 3,530 MW. Nuclear power provides around 16.6% of the country’s electricity.

Sources

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.

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