The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) Foundation has signed a contract to establish a new 5-megawatt hydropower plant at the Chashma nuclear power complex, marking another step toward expanding clean electricity generation.

The project, known as Foundation Hydel Power Plant Unit-05 (FHPP-05), will be constructed at the outfall of the Chashma-5 Nuclear Power Plant. It will become the fifth hydropower facility established under the PAEC Foundation.

Once completed and operational, the FHPP-05 project is expected to generate around 30.66 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.

The electricity produced by the hydropower plant will be supplied to the national grid, adding a renewable source of power to Pakistan’s energy mix.

The project is designed to utilize available water resources at the outfall of the Chashma-5 Nuclear Power Plant. This approach can allow existing infrastructure and water flows to support additional electricity generation without relying on conventional fuel sources.

With a planned capacity of 5MW, FHPP-05 will be a relatively small-scale hydropower project, but its expected annual generation will contribute to the national electricity supply.

Hydropower is considered a clean source of electricity because it generates power without the direct combustion of fossil fuels. Projects such as FHPP-05 can therefore support efforts to diversify Pakistan’s energy sources while increasing the share of lower-emission electricity generation.

The signing of the contract also reflects the PAEC Foundation’s continued involvement in hydropower development. The new facility will join the foundation’s existing and planned hydropower initiatives.

The Chashma site is already an important part of Pakistan’s electricity infrastructure because of its nuclear power generation facilities. Adding a hydropower plant at the outfall provides an opportunity to make further use of available water resources associated with the complex.

The expected annual production of approximately 30.66 million kilowatt-hours represents the amount of electricity the plant is projected to contribute to the national grid each year once it becomes operational.

For Pakistan, additional domestic electricity generation can help strengthen the overall power supply and reduce reliance on imported fuels, particularly when projects utilize renewable or locally available energy resources.

The FHPP-05 project is therefore significant not only because of its 5MW generation capacity but also because it combines existing infrastructure with hydropower technology to produce additional clean electricity.

Further progress on construction, commissioning and the eventual commercial operation of the plant will determine when the projected electricity generation becomes available to the national grid.