The Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (Kanupp) has failed to submit the investigation report to the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority regarding the leakages in the plant even after passage of 17 days. Sources told Business Recorder here on Saturday that Karachi is now facing 80-90 MW electricity shortfall per day, which would continue till the investigation report is submitted to the N-Regulatory Authority.
"We have already sent a letter to Kanupp for the submission of the report. After analysis of the report, it would be decided whether to operate it or not. If it gets approval, the report would be sent back to the Kanupp and it would be granted permission to start the nuclear plant", sources added. "To find out the root cause of default that led to the leakages in the plant is very compulsory to avoid such incidents in future", sources said.
Kanupp is part of Karachi nuclear power complex (KNPC) and is owned and operated by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). Kanupp was closed down on October 5 last for maintenance purposes but one of the channels, used to carry heavy water for cooling, had to be opened as the temperature was increasing because of less flow of water. When the pump started again, after maintenance, the heavy water started leaking.
The plant completed its 30-year lifespan in 2002 and since then it has been given several extensions. The Pakistani engineers had extended its life by bringing in some changes in its internal design. The leakages that the plant had may be termed as the 'design-based' leakages. The radiation, caused by the leakages, was emitted inside the plant that, according to the concerned authorities, do not have any disastrous effects outside the plant or on any worker inside the plant.