Page 9 - AsiaElec Week 13 2021
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AsiaElec NUCLEAR AsiaElec
Plant, which entered commercial operation in of nuclear power.
January 2021. In January 2021, China General Nuclear
Units 3 and 4 at the Fangchenggang NPP and (CGN) has begun to pour concrete at the nuclear
units 5 and 6 at the Fuqing in Fujian province are island of the Hualong One-design Unit 1 at the
expected to be connected to the Chinese grid by San’ao nuclear power plant (NPP) in Zhejiang
the end of 2022. Province. As well as using Hualong One, it is the
Hualong One is one of the third-genera- first Chinese nuclear power venture to involve
tion nuclear power designs. The reactor’s dou- private capital, with Geely Technology Group
ble-layer containment shell can withstand the owning a 2% stake in the plant.
impact of large aircraft, CNNC said. A second Hualong One unit at Karachi is due
Over the course of nearly 20 years of R&D, to enter commercial operation in 2022.
the Hualong One completed 45 scientific and Hualong One was developed by CGN and
technological research projects, a landmark CNNC using the French-derived ACPR1000
achievement of China’s innovative development and ACP1000 designs.
HYDRO
ADB approves $300mn loan
to boost hydro in Pakistan
PAKISTAN THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has distribution network.
approved a $300mn loan to finance the construc- To balance the energy mix and reduce its
tion of a 300-MW hydropower plant (HPP) that dependence on imported fuel, the government
will increase the share of clean energy in Paki- has committed to increase its untapped renew-
stan and improve the country’s energy security. able energy potential in hydro, solar and wind.
The plant will add 1,143 GWh annually to the The Balakot HPP will also generate economic
country’s energy mix, enhancing the energy sec- activity and improve the skills of local commu-
tor’s reliability and sustainability. nities. During construction, the project will gen-
The plant, which will incorporate seismic erate more than 1,200 jobs, about 40% of which
strengthening and climate-proofing measures, will be sourced locally, and provide livelihood
will be built on the Kunhar river near Balakot skills development for women.
City in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and A community development programme will
commissioned by 2027. help to improve livelihood opportunities for
“Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate affected households and adjacent communities,
change, with water resources and energy par- including women and vulnerable segments of
ticularly at risk from floods, droughts, high tem- the population.
peratures and other extreme weather events,” This will help to build economic resilience
said ADB principal energy specialist Adnan and improve the capacity of affected people to
Tareen. cope with climate change, natural disasters and
“In line with Pakistan’s climate change adap- other risks.
tation and mitigation priorities, this climate-re- The plant will substantially increase the rev-
silient hydropower plant will boost the country’s enue of the state-owned Pakhtunkhwa Energy
clean energy generation while effectively utilis- Development Organisation, which is responsible
ing its vast water resources.” for operating HPPs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It
Pakistan is rich in hydropower resources but will help reduce average daily load-shedding in
only around 16% of its identified hydropower the province and serve the national demand.
potential has been harnessed. The government is to invest $175mn in the
The country’s power sector is reliant on project. It has also requested a $280mn loan in
imported fuel-based power generation and project co-financing from the Asian Infrastruc-
is burdened with a stressed transmission and ture Investment Bank (AIIB).
Week 13 31•March•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P9
