Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP)

Environmental Safety

General public and environmentalists have some concerns about the release of radioactive waste from nuclear power plants and its impacts.

Although the waste is a part of everyday life, an inevitable result of today's high technology and consumer-led society, but the nuclear power plants are inherently environment friendly as it produces little waste which can easily be managed.

Used Nuclear Fuel is being stored underwater in Spent Fuel Bay

The records of waste management at KANUPP have been particularly satisfactory and we are determined to manage the wastes to the highest possible standards.

Radioactive Waste Management

Radioactive waste released from KANUPP occur in solid, liquid and gaseous forms. The objective of waste management is to minimize the production of waste and to ensure that the waste is managed in full and complete accordance with both recommendations of International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), and also with good environmental practice.

In order to achieve the above objectives, solid waste and resins are stored within plant site in adequately shielded places. Over 99% of the radioactive substances produced in the reactor remain entrapped inside the fuel. Used nuclear fuel discharged to-date is stored in water-filled bays - a safe arrangement for storage. The fuel bay would suffice for the entire operating life of the plant. The low level solid waste is stored in concrete trenches located in an isolated area near the plant. The trenches are capped and their surface is regularly monitored for any activity.

Liquid waste is disposed after chemical and radiological analysis. It is discharged after diluting into huge volume of turbine and process cooling water outlet. A round the clock monitoring system is also employed to terminate the flow if the activity exceeds the acceptable limits. Gaseous wastes are passed through high efficiency filters before discharge. On line monitors are also installed on the stack to measure the activity released to the atmosphere.

Mobile Radiation Monitoring Laboratory

Environmental Monitoring Programme

Environmental monitoring is the back bone of environmental protection programme. Under this programme, detectors have been installed around KANUPP and in the city. In addition, samples of vegetables, grass, soil, water, fish and milk are regularly analysed to measure their radioactivity content.

Radioactive emission to the environment throughout the operational history of KANUPP has remained below 4% of the maximum permissible limit. Therefore, in environmental field we have a lot to be proud of.