PAEC launches Nuclear Desalination Demonstration Plant Project
'Pakistan Times' Federal Bureau

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) has undertaken a project to acquire know-how on emerging technology for desalination of seawater and to gain experience in manufacturing, operation and maintenance of desalination plant.

The government has already approved PC-1 and allocated the necessary funds for this project titled IAEA Coordinated Research Project (CRP).

PAEC had offered Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP) for the installation of Nuclear Desalination Demonstration Plant (NDDP). The existing intake structure of KANUPP will be used to pump sea water for the desalination plant.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has provided expert missions to assist in the preparation of technical specifications of the project and advice on the safety issues related to its coupling with KANUPP.

The proposed desalination plant will be coupled with KANUPP through an intermediate (isolation) loop and will use extraction steam from one of the power plant feed heater.

This project will also demonstrate that the use of nuclear heat is a viable and economic option for seawater desalination to produce fresh water for domestic and industrial uses.

This project is an excellent example of technical collaboration between PAEC and a foreign principal to promote indigenization of desalination technology in Pakistan.●