nuclear-news

KARACHI: The protection cover of the reactors is designed to endure the impact of a plane crash and there will be no significant adverse effect on the surrounding environment or aquatic marine life during construction or operation of the nuclear power plants, says an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the Karachi Nuclear Power Project-2.

The report was submitted by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) to the Sindh Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), which held a hearing by an expert committee on the project last year.

According to the report, the twin nuclear power plants to be installed at the Paradise Point near Karachi are of the pressurised water reactor type, having a production capacity of 1,000-megawatt each. They are expected to be connected with the national grid in 2019/2020.

The project site is located near the western border of Sindh with Balochistan. It’s about 1.5 kilometre north-west of the existing unit (Kaupp-1). The elevation of the site spread over 585 acres is about 38 feet from the sea level. Additionally, some unused land of K-1 has also been utilised.

“The site is at about 75km from the triple junction of Indian, Eurasian and Arabian plates and is located in a stable seismotectonic marked by occasional seismicity. There has been no change in its location with respect to tectonic setting.

“The surface studies carried out within 8km radius do not depict presence of any deformation indicating a tectonically calmer period of at least 50,000 years,” the report says.

Citing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements under which a population study is required around 30km area of the nuclear power project site, the report says that a survey was conducted which showed that the total population within 16km of the site was 93,770.

The study, however, uses the 1998 census data for population estimates (6,320,679) for an area in the 16km to 32km radius of the site. This area includes at least 25 towns of Karachi, four cantonments and Lasbella district.

The total study area, according to the report, is 80km around the site comprising four districts — Karachi, Dadu, Thatta and Lasbela. Here, too, the report uses population data of the 1998 census for the present and projected estimates.

(It is important to recall here the use of old population data in the plants’ site evaluation report has evoked a lot of concern from experts who believe that the use of old data would lead to gross underestimation of the risk in case of a disaster, and render emergency plans flawed.)

The report makes no mention of the quantity of effluent discharge or emissions from the reactors. It also leaves unanswered the question of how much seawater would be pumped into the system daily. The reason, perhaps, is that reactors, according to the report, are to be designed.

“While designing K-2 and K-3, the environmental assessments will be integrated with feasibility studies to avoid any major adverse impact on the environment,” it says.

However, it does say that the guidelines of the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority would be strictly followed and radiation effects would be minimised as per regulations and that a monitoring system on emissions and discharge as well as liquid and solid waste management systems would be in place.

“The water will be taken from the sea through an intake channel for cooling purposes and will be released into the sea through a discharge channel. There will be no noticeable increase in the sea temperature due to the abundant area of the sea. The aquatic ecology is not expected to be altered and the effects of released heat will have no impact on aquatic environment.

“Special facilities would be installed at the intake structure to avoid entrainment of marine species and, therefore, they will return to seawaters,” it says.

The nuclear waste generated by the project will be much lower in quantity and will be confined as per regulatory requirements, it says.

On wind speed and direction, the report says they are very important parameters in the dispersion calculations for short- and long-term releases from the plant and the most predominant wind direction found at the site is from ‘west south west’. It makes no mention, however, to the areas to be affected in case of a accident.

At Kanupp-1, according to the report, the worst wind disturbance experienced to date is 4.57 metres above the mean sea level which is 30.48metres (100feet) and was generated in a storm having mild velocity of 116km/h. The wave couldn’t reach the ground level of the site. There was no effect of the cyclone in Karachi in 2001.

Since the proposed site is about 11.58m above the mean sea level of 30.48 metres, it could be considered safe from such events. In the worst case, damage to the intake structure and severe choking of the intake water system from debris can result in disability of the pump house. However, an independent and seismically qualified alternative heat sink as per the current standards would be adequate to shut down the reactor and maintain in a safe condition, it says.

A separate study carried in 2004 based on field evidences for assessment of tsunami hazard for Kanupp concluded that the maximum height of the wave resulting from the tsunamis would be from 0.6m to 1m under normal conditions and thus would not pose any hazard to the site.

There has been no incident of flooding (due to rain) at Kanupp so far.

“At the same time, it should be said that in case of a breach of process regulations, safe operation requirements and procedures, any nuclear power plant may pose a lasting threat to the environment and human health on a large scale. Periodical reviews and revisions of operations and control in nuclear power are prerequisites for reduction of risk to environment and human health,” it says.