PAEC Foundation signs contract for hydropower plant at outfall of Chashma-5

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) Foundation has signed a contract for the establishment of its fifth hydropower plant, Foundation Hydel Power Plant Unit-05 (FHPP-05), a 5MW project to be constructed at the outfall of the Chashma-5 Nuclear Power Plant.

Once operational, the plant is expected to generate approximately 30.66 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually for the national grid.

The project will harness the available hydropower potential at the site, contributing to the efficient utilisation of water resources and sustainable power generation. Electricity generation from the plant is expected to commence by September 2029.

The contract was signed between PAEC Foundation and a joint venture comprising China Ocean Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd, Ningbo Water Conservancy and Hydro Power Planning and Design Institute Co Ltd, and Habib Rafique Engineering (Pvt) Ltd at PAEC Headquarters.

The project will complement PAEC’s broader contribution to Pakistan’s energy sector.

The PAEC’s six nuclear power plants currently generate 3,530MW of clean, sustainable, and low-cost electricity for the national grid, while the new hydropower project will further expand PAEC Foundation’s renewable energy portfolio and contribute an additional 5MW of clean electricity.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026